Second Floor Renovations

The second floor of the Museum is undergoing a multi-year transformation. We are thrilled to share these new spaces with you and share more about the next and final phase of the second-floor transformation. 

The second floor will reopen to visitors on October 12, 2024. Long-term galleries housing This Is Winnebagoland and The Menominee Clans Story will begin welcoming visitors on that date. These exhibitions have been unaffected by construction. To ensure visitor safety and accessibility, these spaces have been closed during the construction of the Waldwic Gallery. 

The future Waldwic Gallery renovations are nearing completion. This space will open on November 9, 2024, with an encore presentation of Helen Farnsworth Mears: A Genius of Wisconsin. 

The formerly known “Red Gallery” will be the site of the final phase of the second-floor transformation. This space is currently being reimagined as a future long-term exhibition that continues the story from People of the Waters. 

Major infrastructure improvements completed in 2023-2024 included: 

- Installation of a loading door on the exterior wall of the Steiger Wing. This improvement strengthens our ability to host a wide array of exciting temporary exhibitions in the Waldwic Gallery. 

- Complete renovation of the modern wing of the second floor and the creation of the new Waldwic Gallery (temporary exhibition space). These improvements created new egress, preventing future disruptions to visitor access on the second floor. 

- Security improvements. These upgrades will ensure visitor, facility, and artifact security, ensuring better preservation of your Museum and collections. 

Thank you again for your steadfast support of OPM.