Oshkosh Public Museum celebrates 100th anniversary with new look and new mission

OSHKOSH, WI – (WISS) – The Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) reveals a new logo and a fresh look as it embarks on a year-long celebration of its 100th anniversary. The new identity represents an expanded mission that encompasses not only the history of the area but also art and culture.

“History is always going to be our bread and butter,” said Sarah Phillips, Director of OPM. “History provides context, not just to the past but also to the present and the future. Looking at art and culture, a lot of times those things are just different avenues for telling the stories of history; telling the story of our present day.”  

New logo for OPM

The logo is a colorful, modern expression of not only the landscape of the Lake Winnebago area but also the beautiful jewel tones found in the Tiffany stained glass landscape window of the Sawyer Home, which houses the museum.

“All of those colors are found in the beautiful sunrises over Lake Winnebago,” Phillips said. “And so we were really happy to find a way to kind of embody all of that.” 

The new logo has a focal point in the M. Phillips says that is very intentional.

“What we realize…everybody knows the Oshkosh Public Museum as just the “Museum,” said Phillips. “In this community, we are very fortunate to have some bigger museums. We’ve got EAA, which, obviously, everybody knows as EAA. We have the Paine Art Center, which everybody refers to as ‘The Paine,’ and the Oshkosh Public Museum which is a little bit of a mouthful. So everybody just started calling us ‘The Museum.’ We thought why not embrace that…more casual version of just being called ‘The Museum.”  

The importance of the Sawyer family

In 1924, Edgar Sawyer donated his home to the City of Oshkosh to be used for the betterment of the public. The city then decided that it would be a great place for a museum.

“This year, in the spirit of Edgar Sawyer, the museum is trying to do a lot to give back and to contribute to the community,” Phillips said. “We have a new brand and a new look as we go into the next hundred years.”

As part of the 100th anniversary, OPM has a three-part exhibit series called the Sawyer Saga that tells the story, legacy, and impact of the Sawyer family in Oshkosh. It starts with a deep dive into the first generation of the Sawyer family in the area, starting March 15th. Part two in June will look at Edgar Sawyer and his family, and the third part in the fall will focus on the legacy and philanthropy of the family. 

Phillips says that throughout the year there will be many events during the OPM 100. There will be the “History Osh Hop” in May, and “Dia de los Muertos” in November, culminating with “A Toast to a Century: OPM 100 Reception” on November 8th.

For more information on becoming a museum member or to explore the upcoming events and exhibits of OPM visit Oshkoshmusuem.org. OPM is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm.