Do you like historical films? Are you curious about how accurately Hollywood portrays historical events? Join the Wisconsin Veterans Museum as we delve into these topics through in-person tours that focus on "Heneral Luna" and period of history (with a Wisconsin angle, of course). These tours are free to the public, but registration is required. Please register here.
Mess Night with Robert ‘Bob’ Smith Please join us for our quarterly Mess Night dinner series featuring Robert “Bob” Smith as he explores the vital role of the U.S. Navy Seabees in supporting scientific discovery in Antarctica through Operation Deep Freeze. Discover how Naval Construction Battalion Unit 201 overcame extreme weather and logistical challenges to build and sustain critical infrastructure at the South Pole, advancing research and global knowledge. Please register in advance here $50 MEMBERS | $58 NON-MEMBERS Event sponsored by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation through the generous support of our 2026 Mess Night Series Sponsor Generac Power Systems.
Join us for a lecture: The National Native American Veterans Memorial: Honoring the Military Service of Native Americans with Rachelle B. Pablo (Diné), Museum Specialist with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. She will discuss the making of the National Native American Veterans Memorial that opened on November 11, 2020, in Washington D.C. and the enduring legacy of Indigenous military service. This tribute to Native heroes at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian recognizes for the first time on a national scale the distinguished service of Native Americans in every branch of the US military. Simple and powerful, timeless and inclusive, the memorial creates an interactive yet intimate space for gathering, remembrance, reflection, and healing. It welcomes and honors Native American veterans and their families, and educates the public about their extraordinary contributions. The lecture at Waupaca High School was developed as a companion to the Making History, Making Change Lecture Series, organized by Smithsonian Affiliations. This lecture is free and open to the public.
The Wisconsin Veterans Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is pleased to present a special lecture: The National Native American Veterans Memorial: Honoring the Military Service of Native Americans by Rachelle B. Pablo (Diné), Museum Specialist with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. She will discuss the making of the National Native American Veterans Memorial that opened on November 11, 2020, in Washington D.C. and the enduring legacy of Indigenous military service. Please register in advance HERE. This tribute to Native heroes at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian recognizes for the first time on a national scale the distinguished service of Native Americans in every branch of the US military. Simple and powerful, timeless and inclusive, the memorial creates an interactive yet intimate space for gathering, remembrance, reflection, and healing. It welcomes and honors Native American veterans and their families, and educates the public about their extraordinary contributions. This lecture at the Fluno Center - Howard Auditorium on the UW-Madison Campus is free and part of the Making History, Making Change Lecture Series. It is organized by Smithsonian Affiliations as part of the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250. It is supported in part by the Dreier Family, Johanna and Ken Kim Family, Vaishali Shah Chadha and Family, and Michael Vu & Meridel Bulle-Vu.
Try historical military tabletop games and learn about the history behind the game play. We will be playing "Wunderwaffen" a multi-player strategy game set at the end of World War II with the Allies racing toward Berlin, while Germany tries to resist and develop new "wonder weapons." We will have at least two tables of four people each, but can expand based on the number of reservations. Suitable for ages 12+. Please register here to reserve a spot. Space is limited.
Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026 Time: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM (Full Schedule Below) Location: Wisconsin State Capitol & the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI Cost: Free and open to the public Event Overview: Join fellow Wisconsinites on the historic grounds of the State Capitol for a once-in-a-generation Independence Day celebration! As part of the nationwide AMERICA250 Semiquincentennial initiative, the Wisconsin America250 Commission and the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) are proud to co-sponsor a majestic day of music and community pride. Brought to you in partnership with the Capitol City Band Association, this milestone event brings history to life right in the heart of Madison. Come honor the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding with music and inspiring stories of your family, friends, and neighbors who served. Schedule of Events: Patriotic Concert - Tribute to the Troops: Then and Now 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Location: Wisconsin State Capitol Grounds (King Street Walkway) The Music: Enjoy a musical performance by the Capitol City Band, led by conductors Dave Pedracine and Zach Masa-Myers, that will fill the Square with a powerful selection of patriotic standards, stirring Sousa marches, and timeless American compositions. The Salute: At the heart of the concert is a deeply moving musical and narrative salute to America’s armed forces – “Tribute to the Troops: Then and Now.” The Colors: Bear witness to a proud military tradition featuring a formal presentation of the colors by the VFW Post 7591 Black Knights Color Guard and Auxiliary. Special Gallery Tours 1:30 PM & 3:30 PM or self-guided (doors open at 10:00 AM) Location: Wisconsin Veterans Museum (30 W. Mifflin St., where State Street and the Square meet) The Tour: Enduring Service: 125 Years of Veteran Stories The Experience: On the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum staff are giving special gallery tours to share amazing stories of Wisconsin veterans from the past 125 years. Join us for stories of the behind-the-scenes jobs needed to keep the military moving, Wisconsin women who were the first in their ranks or in their endeavors in the military, and WWI women and men surviving the results of the trenches. Guided tours will be given at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm or come in anytime to go at your own pace. All ages welcome. For more information click here. Attendee Details & What to Bring Seating for the Concert: The morning performance is an open-air, lawn-style event. Attendees are highly encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets for comfort. Museum Admission: Admission to the Wisconsin Veterans Museum and the special Enduring Service gallery tours are always free. Inclement Weather: In the event of severe weather, the morning concert will move into the Capitol Rotunda. Afternoon museum tours will take place indoors rain or shine. Come celebrate America’s 250th birthday on the Square, where Wisconsin’s gratitude meets our nation’s history.
On the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum staff are giving special gallery tours to share amazing stories of Wisconsin veterans from the past 125 years. Join us for stories of the behind-the-scenes- jobs needed to keep the military moving, Wisconsin women who were the first in their ranks or endeavors in the military, and WWI women and men surviving the results of the trenches. Guided tours will be given at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm, or come in anytime to go at your own pace. All ages welcome.
Join the Wisconsin America250 Commission and the WDVA as the Badger State joins the nationwide simultaneous reading of the Declaration of Indepence.
The 22nd Annual Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation Golf Outing, sponsored by Mole Lake Casino, Lodge & Event Center and U.S. Vet General Contracting LLC is scheduled for Monday, July 13, 2026. The event will take place from 9 AM - 5:30 PM at the beautiful course at The Oaks Golf Course in Cottage Grove. Registration includes green fees, a cart with GPS, range balls, tee gift, lunch, dinner and reception following golf. Competitors will be divided into two separate divisions, allowing contestants the opportunity to compete with individuals in their own age group. Division one will be made up of contestants under 65 years of age. Division two will be contestants ages 65 and older. Winners in both divisions will receive prizes. All proceeds from this event support educational programs and exhibits at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. Registration is SOLD OUT! Thank you to our current 2026 sponsors! Major Event Sponsors: Additional Sponsors Individual & Hero Sponsors: Alan & Lisa Kromanaker Cheryl Heiliger Denny & Joan Behr Drilling Family Fred & Ginny McCormick In Loving Memory of COL Donald L. Heiliger, USAF Madison History Roundtable *We are still seeking sponsorships!* To learn more about our sponsor packages, click here.
Join the staff in the museum galleries for our new book club. This month's selection is The Coldest Winter by David Halberstam. This monthly book club meet in the galleries and discuss the selected work that focuses on military history. At each meeting you will traverse the galleries with a staff member as your guide who will explain the context of the readings and show you how “Wisconsin Was There.” This event is free and open to the public. Please register in advance here.
Try historical military tabletop games and learn about the history behind the game play. We will be playing Heimlich & Co., an interesting yet complex spy game where everyone at the table is spying on each other. The goal of the game is to figure out which spies belong to which player. The player who correctly assigns spies to players wins. We will have at least one table of two-seven people, but can expand based on the number of reservations. Gameplay time is 30 minutes, so we will run more than one round. Suitable for ages 8+. Please register here to reserve a spot but we will take walk-ins though space is limited.
Grab some popcorn and a seat in your favorite chair and join us for a virtual discussion of the selected movie with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum staff. This is an online event. We will discuss the 2018 documentary film, They Shall Not Grow Old, directed and produced by Peter Jackson. It was created using footage of the First World War held by the British Imperial War Museum. Please register here. **ATTENTION: please use the following password to register for the event: Pr!vate Due to an influx of spam registrations, we have had to lock down the event with a password. Age Appropriate: This film may not be suitable for all ages as it depicts battle sequences, mild language, and alcohol and tobacco depictions.
Mess Night with Doug Bradley Please join us as we celebrate the release of Doug Bradley's latest book, The Tracks of My Years. Bradley, an esteemed author, educator, and Vietnam veteran, will share insights from his new music-based memoir, highlighting the role of music in his life. The event features live music by Sean Michael Dargan. Please register in advance here: $50 MEMBERS | $58 NON-MEMBERS Each MESS NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM features a guest speaker, topic, dinner, drinks, and time to socialize before and after the talk. Registration will be required before the event. Join us as we transform this historic naval tradition into our own. Event suitable for all ages. Event sponsored by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation through the generous support of our 2026 Mess Night Series Sponsor Generac Power Systems.
Are you curious about how accurately Hollywood portrays historical events? Join the Wisconsin Veterans Museum as we delve into these topics through in-person tours that focus on a specific film and period of history (with a Wisconsin angle, of course). These tours are free to the public, but registration is required. We will discuss the 2018 documentary film, They Shall Not Grow Old, directed and produced by Peter Jackson. It was created using footage of the First World War held by the British Imperial War Museum. These tours free and open to the public, and are appropriate for all ages. Please register here.
Join us for an event to include a reading of Governor Evers' proclamation of August 27 as USS Wisconsin Day in recognition of the boat’s hull number, 827. USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) Association officials will be present to answer questions. On view in the museum gallery will be a casting from torpedo tube the USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) and images relating to the boat’s construction. SSBN 827 is the third U.S. Navy vessel to be named after the state of Wisconsin.
A generational story of war, service, and the families who carry the legacy. My Vietnam Your Iraq connects the stories of eight Vietnam veterans with the experiences of their own children who later deployed to serve in the Iraq War.
Try historical military tabletop games and learn about the history behind the game play. We will be playing Heimlich & Co., An interesting yet complex spy game where everyone at the table is spying on each other. We will set up based on the number of reservations. Suitable for ages 8+. Please register here to reserve a spot. Space is limited.
Grab some popcorn and a seat in your favorite chair and join us for a virtual discussion of the selected movie with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum staff. Register here. Age Appropriateness: This film may not be suitable for all ages as it depicts severe combat violence, strong language, and smoking.
Join the museum staff on a gallery tour focusing on themes in the book "Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming."
