Past Exhibits
Special
- Mummies of the World
- Midwest debut! See the largest exhibition of mummies and related artifacts ever assembled in a ground-breaking experience.
December 17, 2010 to May 30, 2011
- Frogs: A Chorus of Colors
- Hear wild frog calls, learn whether toads have teeth, see the skeleton of the world’s largest frog, and even perform a virtual frog dissection.
October 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011
- Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
- Hundreds of authentic artifacts and room-recreations tell the story of the 2,228 passengers aboard the Titanic during her ill-fated maiden voyage. Learn the haunting tales of the lives abruptly ended or forever altered when the Titanic collided with an iceberg on April 14, 1912.
October 10, 2008 to May 25, 2009
- Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 1: The Original Exhibition of Real Human Bodies
- Investigate the mystery of human anatomy and physiology in this first-of-its-kind exhibit. Using the groundbreaking preservation process of plastination, invented by scientist and anatomist, Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, BODY WORLDS 1 illustrates the vulnerability and wonder of the human body by showcasing over 200 real human specimens, including 20 whole-body plastinates. The specimens in BODY WORLDS 1 stem primarily from the Institute for Plastination's body donation program which maintains a donor roster of over 7,800 living and deceased donors. Over 22 million visitors in 40 cities across Asia, Europe and North America have experienced the exhibit since its debut in Japan in 1995.
January 18, 2008 to June 1, 2008
- Samson Remembered
- Discover and re-encounter Milwaukee's famous gorilla, Samson, and learn about his eventful life at the Milwaukee County Zoo in the interactive exhibit "Samson Remembered," at the museum.
December 26, 2006 to January 1, 2008
- The Climate Change Show
- Learn about climate change and positive ways to protect our planet through a spectacular multimedia experience. By use of video, special effects, relevant objects and lighting changes, "The Climate Change Show" takes the serious and complex issues of global warming and presents them in a fun, dynamic way.
October 6, 2007 to January 1, 2008
- Chicano Now: American Expressions
- Target Presents Chicano Now: American Expressions is Cheech Marin's unique cultural extravaganza of music, history, and style.
February 3, 2007 to September 3, 2007
- Dragon Skies
- Journey through the once highly guarded secret world of ancient China's Royal Astronomers. Discover the fascinating story of their unrivaled contributions to the world's understanding of the scientific, cultural and spiritual significance of the heavens.
July 8, 2006 to October 8, 2006
- Saint Peter and the Vatican: The Legacy of the Popes
- The exhibition brings together more than 300 works of art from the permanent collections of the Vatican museums. Historic sculptures, paintings and other objects tell the story of the 265 popes who have headed the Roman Catholic Church, impacted world history and influenced Western civilizations.
February 4, 2006 to May 29, 2006
- Chocolate: The Exhibition
- Explore the lush environment in which the cacao tree originated, pre-Columbian perspectives and how chocolate became a commodity in the world marketplace. Discover chocolate's impact on human cultures and tropical ecosystems through scenic environments, rare artifacts, videos and interactive exhibition techniques.
October 9, 2005 to January 2, 2006
- Numismatics! Selections from the MPM Collection
- This MPM exhibit showcases nearly 200 rare, prized specimens. Most items date from the 1800's, although a few items reach as far back as 2500 years, and many belong to regimes, colonies or countries that no longer exist.
August 4, 2007 to July 11, 2010
- It's All in the Details: The Legacy of the Fifield Collection
- Great cultures such as the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec were just a few societies in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and we can learn much about these peoples through the material evidence archaeologists and collectors are still uncovering today.
August 17, 2009 to June 1, 2010
- Nunnemacher Arms Collection
- A curator's choice of 43 exclusive pieces of the Museum’s Nunnemacher Arms Collection. Discover the worldwide development of firearms from the 17th century to World War II in the Nunnemacher Arms Collection.
May 1, 2006 to February 1, 2009
Student
- Captivating Characters in World Mythology
- While the story may change slightly from culture to culture, certain mythological characters and themes are universal in explaining and understanding our world. Captivating Characters in World Mythology looks at some of these characters, in various incarnations, through more than 30 objects collected from the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia.
May 7, 2010 to April 1, 2011
- Thinking Outside the Treasure Chest
- Explore different concepts of treasure through a variety of objects: a vest made of soda can pull tabs, Egyptian funerary figurines, and gemstones like amethyst and garnet.
May 2, 2008 to April 4, 2009
