Olson Museum of Natural History Moves to Science Building, Construction Continues

The Olson Museum of Natural History is currently under construction. The old museum, located in Albertson Hall, is now being moved to the first floor of the A-wing of the science building. 

This project started in 2022 following the demolition of Albertson Hall. The museum is estimated to be complete by late 2028, though this timeline is not fixed due to the multiple phases of completion. 

While there is still a lot to do before the museum is complete, Brigid Ferkett, the museum outreach specialist, said, “It’s a process, not a product.” 

This new space will be roughly the same size as the old museum but to be built to be more accessible, with larger spaces making wheelchair access easier.  

“I think the benefit of building a new museum is reimagining everything with the most current data to have the best opportunity to create a modern museum,” Ferkett said. 

The Museum will feature technology like touch screens and space for interactive activities. 

The Museum of Natural History has over 450,000 objects in its collection, and less than 1% of those will be on display in the museum. 

Some featured displays will include vertebrate collections and select objects from the archaeology, paleontology and geology collections.  

There will be rooms featuring rocks and fossils, as well as a Wisconsin and North America exhibit. 

Exhibits will showcase different land types, including the Rocky Mountains, rivers, wetlands, deserts and grasslands. They will also retain the original vertebrate dioramas from the former museum.  

The museum will also showcase a large collection of eggs from hundreds of species of birds 

The gift shop will open first, set to launch in the fall of 2025, and will be located in Room A104. The gift shop will feature live fish and reptiles, which the Ichthyology Club and Herpetology Club plan to care for. 

The purchase of cages and tanks for the animals was made possible by funding from the Student Government Association. 

Don and Judi Olson, former graduates of UWSP, donated $450,000 towards the project. 

The museum will also provide employment opportunities for students. Students will be able to work at the museum as tour guides or in the gift shop.  

The museum will host various activities for children in the community; they work with local schools to provide field trips.  

“[The museum] is a great way to bring the community to our campus and to help broaden our connections,” Ferkett said. 

Gwen Pabich

News Reporter

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