Last Updated: February 2, 2022
Best Museums in Wisconsin
Looking for ideas on interesting museums in Wisconsin? Then you’re certainly in the right place because this guide covers all the top museums in the US state!
We’ve included the classics like the best art and history museums in Wisconsin, but also a few of the hidden gems in Wisconsin, such as a national museum dedicated to railroads, and a museum with the largest collection of mustards in the world.
So, read on to learn all about the best museums in Wisconsin, and see which ones are interesting enough to add to your itinerary!
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Madison Children’s Museum
Image courtesy of beautifulcataya
Madison Children’s Museum is the best museum for kids in Wisconsin. It boasts a variety of interactive exhibits that aim to educate the little ones on all sorts of topics, including sciences, arts, health, history, and more.
The museum was founded in the 1980s, and since then it has quickly become one of the best children’s museums in the state. It allows the kids to both play and learn at the same time, and it even boats a small art studio where kids can get creative and attempt to make art.
Madison Children’s Museum has around 13 interactive exhibits that cover a variety of different topics. One of the popular exhibitions at the museum aims to educate kids about the impact of trash on the planet, while another one teaches them about sustainability and gardening!
Mayville Historical Society
Mayville Historical Society is a small local history museum in Mayville. It was first established in 1968, and since then it has come into possession of all the buildings that it operates today on its campus.
The buildings of the historical society include the Hollenstein home, the Carriage Factory, the Firehouse, and the Cigar Factory, and they’re all equally interesting for first-time visitors. They all tell the story of the development of this small town and the people who founded them.
Also, it’s extremely interesting to see so many different objects that are several centuries old. You can see 20th-century wagons and carriages, cigar-making equipment, photographs of old shops and people who worked in them, as well as a bunch of other artifacts that detail the history of the town of Mayville.
National Railroad Museum
The National Railroad Museum is a popular railroad museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It’s one of the oldest and largest institutions in the United States that is entirely dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the history of the nation’s railroad.
It boasts a vast collection of rolling stock, with some items being more than a century old. This includes various steam, diesel, and electric locomotives, cabooses, passenger and freight cars, and an abundance of other items that are truly a testament to the nation’s rich railroad history,
Also, the National Railroad Museum is in possession of a vast collection of all sorts of records and documents that chronicle how the US railroads evolved. Visitors can also see various uniforms, tools, textiles, and other personal items owned by railroad workers, as well as more than 15,000 photographs, film negatives, and slides about the railroad.
National Mustard Museum
If you want to visit a different kind of museum in Wisconsin, you can’t go wrong with the National Mustard Museum. It’s a bit kitschy, but it is where you will find the world’s largest collection of everything relating to mustard.
If you’re a fan of the polarizing condiment, it’s certainly one of the top museums in the state for you. The museum’s collection includes some 5,500 mustard-related objects on display, as well as a tasting bar with hundreds of different varieties of mustard.
There’s also a store in the museum, which sells a selection of mustards from all corners of the planet. They say that if you can’t find mustard in their shop, you won’t be able to find it anywhere else, making this museum the perfect place for all visitors in Wisconsin who are looking for a specific kind of mustard!
Chazen Museum Of Art
The Chazen Museum Of Art is a popular art museum in Madison, Wisconsin. It has a collection of more than 23,000 artworks, which includes pieces from nearly all periods in art history.
The museum’s vast collection doesn’t just chronicle the different art history periods, but also all the different genres, cultures, and art mediums.
This popular museum in Wisconsin has free admission, which just makes it one of the best things to do in the state on a budget. Also, the museum boasts temporary exhibits that change every few months, meaning that there is significant value in revisiting the museum whenever you get the chance!
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) is Wisconsin’s best art museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art.
Previously known as the Madison Art Center, the Madison museum aims to inspire and educate visitors with its vast permanent collection of modern art. It’s located at State Street in downtown Madison, and it’s one of the top attractions in the city.
The museum has a rotating permanent collection, as well as a bunch of other film series, special exhibits, and educational programs. It’s one of the oldest cultural institutions in the city of Madison, established way back in 1901.
The fascinating art museum occupies an area of 51,500 square feet, with six art spaces throughout its four floors. The main galleries and art spaces are on the first three levels of the museum, while the fourth level (the rooftop) is reserved for the sculpture garden and seasonal exhibits.
Children’s Museum of La Crosse
Children’s Museum of La Crosse is one of the most popular children’s museums in the state of Wisconsin. Situated in the city of La Crosse, the museum boasts three floors full of different interactive and hands-on exhibits for your little ones. If you’re looking for interactive museums in the state, this is easily one of the top options.
The various exhibits encourage kids to play and aim to educate them through fun games. These include a fire truck exhibit where your kids can dress up as firefighters, a dino maze that tests the kids’ knowledge of dinosaurs and the Mesozoic era, a crane that lets the kids role-play as construction workers in a few scenarios, and a lot more!
In addition to the hands-on exhibits, the museum also features playrooms where kids can have even more fun. It’s worth noting that all the children must be accompanied by grown-ups (at least one adult per five kids), so don’t visit the museum unless you’re ready to spend hours watching your little ones run around and have fun.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum
The Wisconsin Veterans Museum is a local history museum on Madison’s Capitol Square. It’s dedicated to telling the stories of Wisconsin’s veterans, and it’s a great museum for anyone who wants to learn more about the brave people who served in the United States military.
The museum was opened in 1901, and since then it has educated the visitors on the involvement of Wisconsin in the American Civil War, as well as the roles of all the veterans from Wisconsin in the different wars the US has been involved in.
One of the highlights of the museum is a huge diorama that depicts the Battle of Antietam. There’s also an entire gallery dedicated to the wars of the 20th century, where visitors can learn about the roles Wisconsin veterans had in all the different wars that took place in this century.
On top of that, the museum’s collection also boasts three full-scale aircraft including a Huey chopper. There’s a newer exhibit that’s dedicated to the War on Terror, as well as a Medal of Honor exhibit that’s particularly touching.
Fort McCoy History Center
Fort McCoy History Center is a popular army museum in Monroe County. It’s one of the most interesting museums in the state for people who are interested in military history thanks to the huge collection of artifacts and other equipment used in the most recent wars.
The Commemorative Area tells the intriguing story of Fort McCoy, with several facilities that were used by military personnel during World War II.
Some of the items on display include footlockers, bunk beds, and potbelly stoves, and they’re worth checking out if you want a glimpse into the lives of soldiers here.
The Equipment Park is easily the highlight of this vast museum. The outdoor area features around 70 equipment pieces on display, which includes everything from tanks to helicopters. If you’re into military vehicles and aircraft you’ll definitely enjoy your time at Fort McCoy!
Milwaukee Public Museum
Milwaukee Public Museum is a human and natural history museum in downtown Milwaukee. It boasts three floors of fun exhibits, which includes the first-ever Dome Theater that was opened in the state of Wisconsin.
The museum’s collection includes both permanent and temporary exhibits on various topics in human and natural history. The museum’s first major exhibit was the “Streets of Old Milwaukee”, which is a scaled recreation of what the city looked like in the 19th and 20th centuries.
There are a total of 17 permanent exhibitions at the Milwaukee Public Museum, which educated visitors on various topics and cultures from all over the world.
Some of the collection highlights include the Living Oceans, European Village, Arctic, and Crossroads of Civilization collections, and they barely account for a fifth of all the amazing exhibitions at the museum.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not
Ripley’s Believe It or Not is a museum in Wisconsin Dells dedicated entirely to the popular franchise. It’s one of the most popular attractions in Wisconsin Dells, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area.
It boasts three floors of interesting exhibitions, with 11 different galleries. Visitors can observe all sorts of puzzles, illusions, and interactive attractions, which are fun for all ages!
It’s worth noting that the upper floors are not stroller/wheelchair accessible, so keep that in mind if you decide to visit this popular museum.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
