Madison, WI. – Through the leadership and vision of Fred and Mary Mohs and the Mohs family, the Wisconsin Historical Foundation will acquire from the Mohs family the 20-22 North Carroll Street properties adjacent to the current Wisconsin Historical Museum on the Capitol Square for the development of a new Wisconsin history museum.
“We are grateful and humbled to acquire the 20-22 North Carroll Street properties at below market value. This purchase will ensure the Wisconsin Historical Society can open a new museum on our state’s Capitol Square by 2026,” said Wisconsin Historical Foundation Director, Julie Lussier. “The Foundation will donate the properties to the Wisconsin Historical Society for the construction of the museum.”
The purchase of the 20-22 North Carroll Street properties allows the Wisconsin Historical Society to combine them with the existing museum property at 30 North Carroll Street and to move forward immediately to design and build a new history museum.
“Thanks to the Mohs family, the Society will be able to design a new standalone facility at one of the most iconic locations in the state,” said Wisconsin Historical Society Deputy Director and COO, Wes Mosman Block. “The site will support a 100,000 square foot museum, increasing its capitol frontage on Carroll Street to extend from the corner of Mifflin Street to the Churchill Building –which is not part of the project–and create a one-of-a-kind visitor experience with expansive capitol views,”
The Wisconsin Historical Society will select an architect and engineering team and begin design in early 2022. Demolition of the existing buildings and construction could occur as soon as early 2024.
For more information visit wisconsinhistory.org/newmuseum.
About Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
About the Wisconsin Historical Foundation
The Wisconsin Historical Foundation exists to advance the mission of the Wisconsin Historical Society. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefiting the Society and administers the membership program. Visit wisconsinhistory.org for more information.
