On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Kewaskum, Wisconsin, announced a $4 million capital campaign to construct a permanent, indoor Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial & Education Center. The proposed 4,500‑square‑foot facility will expand the existing outdoor memorial into a year‑round destination for students, families, educators, veterans, first responders and visitors from across the Midwest.
Why a new indoor center matters
Organizers say an entire generation of Americans now grows up with little or no personal memory of September 11. In 2024 alone, the outdoor memorial welcomed thousands of visitors, including more than 850 students from eight Wisconsin counties. Yet many young people cannot travel the thousand miles to New York’s National Memorial & Museum, the Pentagon, or the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania.
“We are reaching a point where nearly every student who walks through our memorial was born after September 11,” said Dr. Mark Bazata, Board President of the Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial & Education Center. “They shouldn’t have to travel a thousand miles to understand what happened that day, who we lost, how Americans responded and why those lessons still matter.”
Features of the planned center
The indoor center will house interactive exhibits, educational stations, and dedicated space for school groups and community programs. Climate‑controlled facilities will allow programming regardless of Wisconsin weather, ensuring that the stories of the nearly 3,000 victims—including the 18 who had Wisconsin ties—are accessible year‑round.
Among the existing outdoor displays is a steel beam recovered from the North Tower of the World Trade Center, a tangible reminder of the tragedy. The new building will complement that artifact with modern, hands‑on learning experiences that highlight the courage of first responders, military personnel and ordinary Americans who answered the call.
Local and regional support
Kewaskum is home to Andrea Haberman, a Kewaskum High School graduate who perished in the North Tower on her first business trip. Her story underscores the personal connection the village has to the national tragedy.
The campaign also aligns with recent efforts in New York, where the City Council approved a $1 million investment to provide free field trips for city students to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Both initiatives reflect a growing recognition that 9/11 education must reach beyond the immediate sites of the attacks.
How to help
Individuals, businesses, foundations and organizations interested in supporting the capital campaign can learn more by visiting the center’s website. Contributions will directly fund construction, exhibit development and the ongoing operation of the indoor facility.
With the new center, Kewaskum aims to preserve the memory of September 11 for future generations, ensuring that the lessons of courage, sacrifice and unity continue to shape the hearts and minds of Midwestern youth.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
