Celebrating 90, 20, & 250
Kenosha Public Museum 90th Anniversary
Celebrating 90 Years of the Kenosha Public Museum
Since opening its doors in 1933, the Kenosha Public Museum has been a place of curiosity, learning, and wonder. For decades, the museum welcomed visitors in its original building—today home to the Dinosaur Discovery Museum. In September 2011, the museum began a new chapter with the opening of its current lakefront home, where natural history, world cultures, and fine art come together under one roof.
One of the museum’s most beloved treasures, the Schaefer Mammoth skeleton—the largest and most complete woolly mammoth ever excavated in North America—remains a centerpiece of the collection, connecting visitors to the deep history of our region.
For 90 years, the Kenosha Public Museum has inspired generations, and we look forward to continuing that legacy of discovery.
90th Anniversary Sticker Contest
December 1, 2025 – December 30, 2025
Help us celebrate 90 years of the Kenosha Public Museum with your creativity! During the month of December, pick up or download our special sticker contest sheet and design your own museum-inspired sticker.
We’ll be selecting three winners in each age category:
-
4K – 3rd Grade
-
4th – 8th Grade
-
9th – 12th Grade & Adults
Winning designs will be printed and given away at the Kenosha Public Museum front desk throughout 2026 as part of our anniversary celebrations.
Let your imagination shine and be part of the museum’s history in the making!
Handprint Mammoth Activity in Field Station
January 2, 2026 – December 30, 2026
Make Your Mark with a Mammoth!
Join us in the Field Station to help create a community-sized woolly mammoth. Add your painted handprint to form its shaggy coat, and watch as our mammoth comes to life with the help of visitors of all ages. Be part of this collaborative artwork and celebrate the museum’s 90th anniversary in a hands-on way!
Coffee & Conversation: Celebrating 90 Years of the Kenosha Public Museum
Coming February, 2026
Join us for a special edition of Coffee & Conversation as we celebrate the Kenosha Public Museum’s 90th Anniversary! Discover the fascinating history behind the Museum’s journey—from its humble beginnings in the basement of the old Gilbert M. Simmons Library to its striking, modern home on Kenosha’s lakefront.
Over a cup of coffee, delve into the stories behind the building’s design and the vision that shaped the Museum you know today. Learn about the architectural features that make the space unique, and how the Museum’s evolving home reflects its mission to educate, inspire, and connect the community.
Following the talk, enjoy a brief guided tour highlighting key elements of the building and exhibits.
Come raise a mug to 90 years of curiosity, culture, and community!
Exhibition: Kenosha Public Museum 90th Anniversary
Opening August, 2026
More details to come
Dinosaur Discovery Museum 20th Anniversary
Dinosaur Discovery Museum 20th Birthday Party
Saturday, August 15, 2026
More details to come!
United States 250th Anniversary
50 States of Mind: The Art of Bill Reid
October 4, 2025 – August 2, 2026
Treasures Gallery
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, local artist Bill Reid presents 50 States of Mind, a playful journey across the country that blends wordplay, travel, and sculpture.
Having visited all 50 states, Reid photographs his whimsical, brightly painted steel sculptures in natural settings, reimagining each state’s welcome sign and motto with a humorous twist. From frolicking on the “Opun Range” of Nebraska to spotting “Buffaloons” in bloom and discovering Iowa’s “Unicorns” made of corn, Reid invites viewers to see the nation through a lens of creativity and laughter.
For more than 40 years, Reid has welded thin-gauge steel into colorful, character-filled sculptures that often draw on puns, homonyms, and playful language. As writer Stacey Williams-Ng once remarked, “Bill Reid is to sculpture what Dr. Seuss is to children’s books.”
50 States of Mind celebrates the diversity of the country with wit, imagination, and an artist’s deep appreciation for the places and people that make up the United States.
Sign up for our eNewsletter!
News about Kenosha Public Museum workshops, events, exhibits, and more, delivered to your inbox
