MPS students create pop-up museum in Bay View

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- If you're looking for a different way to spend your weekend, a new attraction is "popping up" in South Shore Park in this weekend - literally.

Milwaukee Public School students are hosting a "pop-up museum" at the Milwaukee Observatory in Bay View. The "pop-up museum" is a temporary, interactive observatory. And it's not just for the community viewing pleasure, but rather about its history.

Earlier this summer, 10 Bay View High School students took part in an archaeological dig in the city. They found square nails, stone wear, ceramics and even evidence of European settlement.

Ryan Kresse works at Discovery World and has been helping the students complete their dig this summer.

“To see them pulling this history out of the ground was kind of awesome,” Kresse said. “Exploring the neighborhood on this level and seeing the history and unpeeling the layers of time has been fascinating for me. It's been fascinating for the students.”

The uncovered artifacts are going to be on display at the Milwaukee Observatory. There will also be visual art pieces they designed which depict places, events, and people important to the city’s history.

“One of the things we really want people to do is come down and share their neighborhood stories with us and with the students,” Kresse said.

Along with the exhibit, the students will conduct walking tree tours. The tours will focus on five different trees throughout the park. According to Kresse, there are about 75 different species of trees in South Shore Park.

The Milwaukee Observatory featuring the students' work will be open Saturday, August 10th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, August 11th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.