MANITOWOC – A “significant” grant from the West Foundation will help the Wisconsin Maritime Museum as it renovates the newly developed Wisconsin Maritime Heritage Center on Franklin Street in Manitowoc.
“We are grateful to the West Foundation for recognizing the importance of this renovation project, as we transform the Wisconsin Maritime Heritage Center into a community resource for the public to view the vast collection not on exhibit, as well as for researchers to work with and study these world-class maritime artifacts,” said Kevin Cullen, executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, in a news release.
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According to the release, the grant will specifically support the facility’s West Bay, which will include a customized compact boat storage system to efficiently store more than 40 of the museum’s historic small boat collection and more than 300 historic outboard motors. The project will create approximately 3,000 square feet of secure, climate-controlled storage that meets modern museum standards for artifact preservation.
The 25,000-square-foot Maritime Heritage Center houses the majority of the museum’s collections, which have recently expanded through partnerships with the Wisconsin Historical Society, the diving community and private donors.
“However, the influx of new artifacts has created urgent needs for improved storage, cataloging and conservation facilities,” the news release states.
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Renovations to the West Bay will also include upgrading the building envelope for watertight and insulated conditions, installation of a new HVAC system to maintain stable temperature and humidity levels, and updated electrical and plumbing systems.
According to the release, future plans for the Wisconsin Maritime Heritage Center include the renovation of the East Bay for compact artifact storage and the North Bay to create a freshwater conservation lab, visible storage areas and public educational spaces.
Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: West Foundation grant helps Wisconsin Maritime Museum project