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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Join the staff in the museum galleries for our new book club. This month's selection is Savage Little Wars of Peace by Max Boot. This monthly book club meets in the galleries to discuss a selected work with a military history focus. 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.
