The Pritzker Military Museum & Library is packing up its Downtown Chicago artillery of artifacts and books, and carting it off to the greener pastures of Wisconsin. In an announcement, revealed first by the Chicago Sun-Times, the museum said it would close its Monroe Building location come July 27, right as the "War of 1812: Countering Peril on the High Seas and at Home" exhibit says its goodbyes.
It's not just a hop across state lines for this archive; it's a strategic redeployment. The museum will merge with the Pritzker Military Archives Center (PMAC) in Somers, about 65 miles up north, a move that is set to wrangle its considerable collection of 40,000 militaria and over 65,000 volumes into one state-of-the-art hub, as per the WGN-TV report.
Museum interim President Robert Bravo laid out the vision stating, "Merging PMML and PMAC will carry our mission into the 21st century by safeguarding historical artifacts and book collections for future generations to see and experience," a statement obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. And wouldn't you know it, the tech-savvy soon-to-be Wisconsin residents will open its doors later this year, offering expanded in-person exhibits and programming.
The move seems to be about more than just saving costs; it's about legacy and leveling up. The nonprofit entity aims to use cutting-edge technology to "provide a high-level experience to members and researchers," Bravo told WGN-TV in a release, driving home the point that this isn't your granddaddy's archive museum. Special access to library services, virtual gizmos, and digitized goodies will be up for grabs for members and researchers, giving them the feeling that they've cracked the code of the past.
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library was started in 2003 by Jennifer Pritzker, a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and a Pritzker with more military stripes than any governor's mansion resident. Aside from commanding the Pritzker Military Foundation as president, Jennifer also sits at the helm of the museum’s board of directors, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Her firm, Tawani Enterprises, has its prints all over the six-year meticulous restoration of the Monroe Building, wrapped up in a bow in 2012.
