Home / Disasters and Accidents / Crane Beam Plummets: Worker Injured at History Center Site
Crane Beam Plummets: Worker Injured at History Center Site
2 Feb
Summary
- A 20,000-30,000 pound beam fell about 50 feet.
- One worker suffered critical injuries but is now stable.
- Construction is paused at the future Wisconsin History Center.
A worker is in stable condition following a serious incident on January 31, 2026, at the construction site for Madison's future Wisconsin History Center. A crane dropped a beam weighing between 20,000 and 30,000 pounds, which fell approximately 50 feet through sublevels.
One employee, who fell with the beam, sustained critical injuries but is now stable and receiving care at a nearby hospital. An uninjured employee was also rescued from the site. Work has been halted as the construction company, Findorff, collaborates with officials to determine the cause.
The $106.5 million Wisconsin History Center project, expected to open in 2027, replaced the former state historical museum. The five-story, 100,000-square-foot facility is a significant state project led by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
