At this free museum you will understand the stories of the people of Wisconsin who served from the Civil War to present day. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum arose from the desire of Wisconsin’s Civil War veterans to preserve the legacy of their accomplishments and the memory of their fallen comrades. In 1901, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Memorial Hall opened in the state capitol building to fulfill the mandate of Chapter 125, which required state officials establish a memorial hall to commemorate Wisconsin’s role in the Civil War and any subsequent wars. In 1945, control of the GAR Memorial Hall became an educational activity of the WI Dept of Veterans Affairs. In 1993, the museum moved to 30 W Mifflin St.