New Trout Museum, new family resource center on tap for Appleton over the next year

Two exciting new projects in Appleton will become reality over the course of the next year: First 5 Fox Valley’s new home at the former Trout Museum and the Trout Museum itself opening at its new location later this year.

First 5 Fox Valley's executive director, Barb Tengesdal, unveiled the plans for the new family resource center, Together for Families. It will be housed at 111 W. College Ave. in downtown Appleton, the former home of the Trout Museum of Art. The center will serve as a resource for parents to ask questions, get help, and build community.

“Sixty-eight percent of Wisconsin's counties have family resource centers and Outagamie County is one of the few without one nearby (Green Bay and Fond du Lac) so this will be a fantastic resource to strengthen families in our community,” said Representative Lee Snodgrass (D-Appleton).

The YMCA, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, and Help Me Grow are among the agencies committed to providing services through the resource center. The center is in the process of locating additional tenants and finding a childcare provider.

The project is approximately halfway to its capital campaign goal of $8 million, with donations coming from Plexus, the Nelson Family Fund, as well as from the American Rescue Plan Act, including those from Outagamie County and the City of Appleton.  Approximately $51,000 has already been raised from private donors. The public phase of the capital campaign will begin this summer.

Renovations of the Together for Families building are scheduled to begin in the fall, with an opening planned for summer 2026.

Trout Museum of Art

The Trout Museum of Art’s last day at its former location was on May 18. The new $16 million building at 325 E. College Ave will be four stories tall with over 100,000 square feet.  The new, brighter, and more accessible space will provide a greater ability to display artwork.

“We're excited," executive director Christina Turner said as she recently toured the new building. She said she believes “museum patrons will appreciate the higher ceilings and single floor layout.”

Thanks to The Boldt Company, admission will be free for the first year, providing everyone the opportunity to experience the world of art without financial barriers. Visitors can return many times throughout the first year to explore rotating exhibitions and events or simply enjoy the artistic atmosphere. 

“We’re proud to be part of this new chapter in Appleton’s cultural landscape,” said Tom Boldt, Chairman of The Boldt Group. “Art enriches our community, and we believe in its power to connect people, spark new ideas, and inspire creativity. By supporting the Trout Museum of Art’s vision, we hope to foster more cultural opportunities for our community.”

The Trout Museum will be located on the first floor. Lawrence will occupy the rest of the space for faculty offices, classrooms, and student housing. An official grand opening will be held on October 11. 

Appleton Public Library

Area residents are enjoying the new Appleton Public Library, which opened on February 15.   The renovation and expansion of the old library at 200 N Appleton Street in downtown Appleton has been 17 years in the making.

The renovated library consists of 93,675 square feet of space and features a curved glass pavilion on the south facade and a community room for 315 people, as well as dozens of smaller study rooms. The library has a geothermal system for heating and cooling. It required the drilling of 70 wells beneath the library parking lot. 

The $40.4 million library project was a collaboration of the library, the city of Appleton, Friends of Appleton Public Library, The Boldt Co., and architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Funding sources included Appleton property taxes ($26.4 million), fundraising by the nonprofit Friends of Appleton Public Library ($12 million), and the American Rescue Plan Act ($2 million).