07-04-2025
Milwaukee Public Museum closes a gallery to prepare for move to new building
The Milwaukee Public Museum closed a gallery and an additional exhibit space Monday as the next step toward opening in its new building in 2027.
The museum, 800 W. Wells St., is temporarily closing the third-floor Asia gallery to use that space as a staging area while staff "deinstall a small percentage of items on exhibit throughout the Museum," it said in a statement posted on its website. The deinstalled items will be inventoried, organized and prepared to be displayed in "Living in a Dynamic World," an exhibit planned for the museum's new home at 1310 N. Sixth St.
Also, the current museum building's Pre-Columbian America mezzanine above the third floor is permanently closing. That display includes pottery and metal objects from Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Some of those objects also will be included in the new "Living in a Dynamic World."
Other third-floor galleries, such as Africa and Living Oceans, remain open to the public. Second, first and ground floor spaces are open, too.
The museum does not yet have a planned date for when the Asia gallery will reopen. "During this first round of object deinstallation, we will gain crucial information that will improve future processes and help us better determine timelines for other exhibit closures," the museum said in its website posting.
People can see virtual tours of the Asia gallery and the Pre-Columbian America mezzanine on the museum website.
As it packs up and moves items to the new location, the museum plans to stagger temporary closures in its current building to "ensure visitors still have an enjoyable" experience.
More: Milwaukee Public Museum raises 80% of its $240 million goal for new building
More: New Milwaukee Public Museum begins to rise downtown, with construction on schedule
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Public Museum closes a gallery to prepare for move
