Frequently Asked Questions

Visitor Information

The Oshkosh Public Museum is for everyone. Thank you for contributing to a positive experience for all.

What are your hours?

• The Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 10-4:30. We are closed Sundays and Mondays, plus major holidays. 

Can I take pictures inside the museum?

• Yes! Photography is welcomed in all of our galleries, but please keep the flash off. 

Can I carry bags in the museum?

• Small bags can be brought inside, but large bags and backpacks may not be carried into the galleries. Please consider leaving any unneeded bags or items at home during your visit.

Is the Apostles Clock on view? 

• Yes! The beloved Apostles Clock remains on exhibit. The Apostles Clock is over 125 years old and may unexpectedly require maintenance or repair. If you are traveling specifically to see the Clock, please call ahead to check that it is operational the day of your visit. 

Can I take videos inside the museum?

• Personal videography is allowed at OPM (tag @oshkoshpublicmuseum or use the hashtag #OshkoshPublicMuseum if you're sharing the video on social media).
• If you are a representative of a corporation or the media and are looking to film onsite, please contact us at 920.236.5799. The museum reviews these requests on a case-by-case basis. Requests with short notice (less than 3 business days) may not be able to be accommodated. 

Facilities + Amenities Information

Is food and drink available? 

• No, OPM does not offer food or drink for purchase onsite. Food and beverages are not allowed in our exhibit spaces. 

Can I host an event at the Museum? 

• Maybe! OPM's Galena Room (lower level) can be rented out depending on availability. Contact us to inquire. 

Can I take photos with a professional photographer outside the Museum? 

• Yes! At this time, the public is welcome to utilize the grounds of OPM for photography. Please be respectful of our historic building and other visitors by removing any trash. 

Can I sketch inside the museum?

• Yes, as long as access for other visitors is not disrupted, and using only pencil and small notebooks. Please leave colored pencils and pens at home.

Education Information

Does the Museum host field trips? 

• Absolutely! Contact us to start the adventure. 

Can my classroom have lunch at OPM during our field trip? 

• Lunch space is available in the Galena Room, depending on availability. 

How do I check out an Inquiry Kit for my classroom? 

• Inquiry Kits are free for all OASD classrooms and $25 for all other classrooms. Click here to learn more and reserve your kit. 

Accessibility Information

Are service animals allowed inside the museum?

• Yes, service animals are allowed. 

Is OPM accessible? 

• Yes, we have a wheelchair available for use. All doorways should accommodate standard wheelchairs.
• The Historic Sawyer Home is accessible, except the landings on the Grand Staircase and the Veranda exterior. The Grand Staircase and its Tiffany stained glass window can be viewed and appreciated by all from the second floor at the Tiffany Window Overlook. 

Does OPM offer accessible parking? 

• Yes, accessible parking is available in OPM's parking lot. Spaces are located nearest to Algoma Boulevard.

Are there elevators? 

• Yes, you can navigate all three floors of OPM using an elevator. 
• Please note that there are stairs to enter the main galleries. A wheelchair accessible lift is available in our lobby. 

Collections + Archives Information

What types of things does the Museum collect?

• The Museum collects artifacts and archival items that serve to advance its mission and relate to Oshkosh, the Lake Winnebago Region, and the Historic Sawyer Home.

How do I make a donation?

• Donations must be made by appointment with a member of OPM staff. You can begin the process by contacting us at 920.236.5799. Concerns about anonymity can be accommodated. 

Can Museum staff identify, appraise, or authenticate objects?

Are artifact donations tax deductible? 

When will my artifact be on exhibit? 

Does the Museum offer advice on how to care for important objects that I own?

About Repatriation

What is repatriation?

• Repatriation is the legal process by which museums and other federally funded entities return human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony that meet the requirements outlined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and are claimed by federally recognized Native American tribe(s) and lineal descendants.

What is NAGPRA?

• The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a Federal law enacted in 1990 to resolve and restore the rights of Native American lineal descendants and tribes to human remains and cultural items. NAGPRA provides a legal framework and pathway for repatriation processes to take place.
  NAGPRA requires museums, agencies, and universities that accept Federal funding to consult with Native American tribes regarding the repatriation of human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony in museum collections, or discovered on Federal or Tribal lands after 1990. 

How does Oshkosh Public Museum handle repatriation?

• The Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) is fully committed to the ethical and legal principles of NAGPRA and considers this law to be the foundation of appropriate museum practice. After the law’s inception, the OPM hired a staff member to begin its outlined activities. These include an inventory of Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects in the Museum’s collections. In 1993, this inventory was sent to officials of ten Tribal Nations currently or formerly located within the state of Wisconsin. Beginning in 1995, Tribal Nations and consortiums began inquiring in response to the 1993 Federal Inventory. During this period, the OPM facilitated consultations, visits, and communications with Tribal Nations. Officials were given open access to any Native American cultural collections that might have been within the scope of NAGPRA, including human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony in the Museum’s collections. 
  Furthermore, the OPM has ensured that exhibitions like People of the Waters are crafted in dialogue and in collaboration with Tribal partners to ensure their voices and perspectives are included in our narratives.