Civil War Museum
Civil War Museum
4.5
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
The accredited Civil War Museum opened in 2008 on Kenosha Wisconsin's scenic lakefront campus. 57,000 Sq Ft covers American Civil War history like no other, offering the enthusiast a chance to learn about the contributions of the Upper Middle West. Already acclaimed for their permanent exhibit featuring life-scale, interactive exhibits, and audio and video technology. Introduced in 2013, the award-winning 360 degree film "Seeing the Elephant" is a 10 minute long glimpse into the life of a mid-western soldier, from recruitment, to training, through battle and finally returning home. See also the Veterans Gallery commemorating soldiers from each war fought by the US.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
283 reviews
Excellent
200
Very good
68
Average
11
Poor
4
Terrible
0
WITraveler3353
Milwaukee, WI264 contributions
Nov 2020
I visited recently with my family for a safe COVID activity. We were the only guests on a Saturday afternoon, making our wristband super unnecessary. I felt the $9 fee
(out of towner) was too high for what it was, especially after visiting the public museum that only requested a donation. I would suggest making it $5 for everyone or a donation.
My favorite part of the museum were the figures that spoke and told stories when you approached them. Otherwise it was far too much reading. If you are very into the Civil War history you could probably spend a couple hours inside otherwise you can be through it all in less than an hour. I'm sure there was a lot of good information but eventually I didn't want to read anymore. I wish there was more interactive displays to keep me interested.
(out of towner) was too high for what it was, especially after visiting the public museum that only requested a donation. I would suggest making it $5 for everyone or a donation.
My favorite part of the museum were the figures that spoke and told stories when you approached them. Otherwise it was far too much reading. If you are very into the Civil War history you could probably spend a couple hours inside otherwise you can be through it all in less than an hour. I'm sure there was a lot of good information but eventually I didn't want to read anymore. I wish there was more interactive displays to keep me interested.
Written 23 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jprz
Sarasota, FL44 contributions
Dec 2019
A small museum with a steep admission considering you can see and read all in a short amount of time. Some intersting collectibles on display. 360 degree movie was good. Signage within the building was poor.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear you didn't have an excellent visit to our Museum. We often hear from visitors that it takes several trips to read through every panel of our Fiery Trial exhibit, which can vary depending on how interested they are in the subjects being presented. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the 360 film "Seeing the Elephant", which was an in-house project we are very proud of. We hope you visit us again sometime.
Written 13 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mark H
Fond du Lac, WI4,193 contributions
Jul 2021
Even though I live an hour or so away I had never been to any of the Kenosha Museums, so on a day off I hopped on my motorcycle and the trip.
The museum is near the lakefront and parking is plentiful and free.
For a medium-sized museum, I think they've done an excellent job telling the story of the Midwest's contribution to the Union during the Civil War.
The tour starts with a 360-degree movie giving an overview of how people enlisted and what their first experience in combat was like. It's not gory, but the sound and theme might be too intense for small kids.
I might have missed it, but I wish the museum would have touched on the draft riots by immigrants. Not everyone the was jumping at the chance to go to war, especially after fleeing repressive governments in Europe.
There is a lot of reading with mannequins depicting living conditions or a famous scene.
I would budget 90 minutes to as much as two hours to visit.
Not being a resident of the area I was charged $11. For those who think this is too expensive, I think it's important to support local culture.
The museum is near the lakefront and parking is plentiful and free.
For a medium-sized museum, I think they've done an excellent job telling the story of the Midwest's contribution to the Union during the Civil War.
The tour starts with a 360-degree movie giving an overview of how people enlisted and what their first experience in combat was like. It's not gory, but the sound and theme might be too intense for small kids.
I might have missed it, but I wish the museum would have touched on the draft riots by immigrants. Not everyone the was jumping at the chance to go to war, especially after fleeing repressive governments in Europe.
There is a lot of reading with mannequins depicting living conditions or a famous scene.
I would budget 90 minutes to as much as two hours to visit.
Not being a resident of the area I was charged $11. For those who think this is too expensive, I think it's important to support local culture.
Written 24 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew B
1 contribution
Feb 2024 • Couples
The layout of the museum was well thought out, starting from the stage being set prior to the war through to the end, with additional modern day issues in the final room that tied nicely to the prior exhibits.
Much of the museum is told through “newspapers” that explain a concept or theme, often with individual stories. Many of the themes were supplemented with artifacts, letters, and pictures. While the history was really engaging and impactful, the individual stories told throughout really grounded the history through personal perspectives.
Much of the museum is told through “newspapers” that explain a concept or theme, often with individual stories. Many of the themes were supplemented with artifacts, letters, and pictures. While the history was really engaging and impactful, the individual stories told throughout really grounded the history through personal perspectives.
Written 17 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rick D
11 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
We had driven from House on the Rock to Kenosha - just to see this museum - based upon the reviews this museum had received. I am a big Civil War history buff and the museum is very nice, and the information is interesting, but we were somewhat disappointed in it. Maybe it's because the House on the Rock was sooo fascinating. If we'd known what this museum was like, we probably wouldn't have driven that far just to see it. Kenosha has a beautiful waterfront area, so that was nice. We'd probably give the Civil War Museum a "6."
Written 31 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tarit1979
Gurugram (Gurgaon), India247 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
The Civil War is an important historical period in not only US but also World History. This museum beautifully brings out all the minute aspects of the war and the ordinary people involved in it. There is a beautiful 10 minute 3D movie called "seeing the elephant" which is a must see. You will be both exhilarated and also slightly sad when you walk out of here.
Written 30 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
smuss
Colgate, WI30 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
We have lived within a 90 min drive for years but had never been until today. Great experience, very informative. The talking statues were excellent. They really try to make you understand how life was during the time period. Plus great views of lake Michigan from the terrace. Highly recommend .
Written 30 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rae
428 contributions
Jan 2023 • Friends
$5 donation to enter, wonderful 360° movie, great stories from so many perspectives in the civil war. It focuses on Illinois. Ohio, Wisconsin, and Some other great lake Midwest states. Interactive exhibits, beautiful displays, some are definitely worn out but still very much entertaining.
Written 15 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
muzique1960
Woodridge, IL1,003 contributions
Oct 2022
An amazing museum! Very modern and elegant. It is laid out very nicely and easy to navigate. The staff greeted us and gave us an overview of the museum, to help us plan and enjoy our visit. The film was quite well done. The displays were informative and complete. Very nice gift shop.
Written 28 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrjonesii
Indianapolis, IN322 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
My husband and I stopped here on our way to Milwaukee after visiting Mars Cheese Castle. Good customer service. Look and feel fairly new. Very clean. Not crowded at all. Great and interesting history. Reasonably priced. Bring military ID or proof of service for discount. Beautiful view of the Great Lake. There is a working trolley in the city. Beautiful area to walk, explore and take pictures especially on a warm day. Another museum is right next door. We didn’t have time to do everything. You literally could spend a whole day in Kenosha.
Written 19 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is the typical amount of time a family of 4 would stay, including watching the short movie?
Written 24 July 2019
Between 1 and 2 hours. The full time allows for reading all the informative signage and checking out all the artifacts (recommended). If kids are young or not particularly interested in the subject matter, 1 hour is sufficient to walk through it all and catch the short film. I would highly recommend pairing this site with the Kenosha Public Museum right next door.
Written 24 July 2019
The Fiery Trial exhibit has an admission price of $9 per adult, $5 for residents of Kenosha. Children 15 and under are free, but must be accompanied by an adult.
Written 20 April 2017
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