MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) – Despite uncertainty about the future of the UWO Fox Cities campus, the Barlow Planetarium will continue operating under Winnebago County’s ownership.
The county now owns the entire campus and is currently providing short-term funding to keep the planetarium running. Long-term, officials hope the facility will become self-sustaining.
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Barlow Planetarium Director Teri Gee said she’s thankful the county listened to community input and kept the doors open.
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“It’s been open for 27 years. There’s been a planetarium here on this spot ever since the campus opened in 1960. So this is an important institution, and the community made it clear that they wanted it to be preserved—and so it’s nice to have that support,” Gee said.
While plans are underway to repurpose the rest of the campus, one thing is certain: The Weis Earth Science Museum has permanently closed and relocated to the History Museum at the Castle in Appleton.
