Planned expansion of state Historical Museum could be city`s biggest project ever

Determined to fulfill a two-decade-long dream, the Wisconsin Historical Society and developers are pursuing a striking new history museum with commercial and residential space above it on Capitol Square that could be the city’s biggest project ever.

The state, the Historical Society, Hovde Properties and landowner Fred Mohs have long eyed part of the block that fronts the Square and holds the current, undersized museum and surrounding properties for a joint redevelopment. The cost could approach $240 million.

The society is pursuing a $120 million, 100,000-square-foot museum that would more than double exhibition space, and provide learning, meeting and flexible spaces with state-of-the-art technology. It would be topped by the Hovde-Mohs $80 million to $120 million private development bringing 200,000 to 250,000 square feet of commercial and residential space.