GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A Brown County attraction is set to undergo a long overdue upgrade.
The core exhibit gallery of the Neville Public Museum hasn’t seen an upgrade in its thirty-six-years.
Now, that’s changing as demolition officially got underway Tuesday.
Officials have already packed up and transported over 2,000 artifacts into temporary storage, but one still remained.
“Old Crock is a fire pump,” explains Beth Lemke, Neville Public Museum Executive Director. “It was built in New York and brought to the city of Green Bay when Fort Howard existed.”
Due to its size, crews will be taking down walls to most efficiently move it out.
The goal of the project is to modernize the layout of the second floor and re-design the space in which artifacts are displayed.
For example, officials say they will utilize updated lighting and exhibits will now be separated by theme, rather than chronological order.
“The artifacts couldn’t tell their own story, so we’re going to make sure that [with] the case and the cabinetry you’re really close to those objects,” she explains. “Still not being able to touch them, but much closer.”
A million dollars in taxpayer funding has been approved by the county board to help pay for the various renovations.
“When people are coming to visit this community they make a point to come by and stop at the Neville Public Museum to learn a little bit more about our community,” explains County Executive Troy Streckenbach.
While the museum may be located in downtown Green Bay, he says its numerous benefits reach all over the county.
“It really has a larger reach than just the local community,” he says.
The Neville Public Museum Foundation has kicked off a capital campaign called “Expanding Culture and Curiosity” that has a goal to raise $3 million.
According to the foundation’s executive director, Kasha Huntowski, the money will cover all costs, including an endowment to keep the museum current and fresh.
Museum officials expect the grand re-opening of the space to take place in June 2020.
