What a treasure Milwaukee has in this art museum! When I moved here 18 months ago, the first thing…read moreI did that made me feel like I was truly home was to buy an annual membership to the museum. It was worth every penny, and it's especially easy to get my moneys worth because the museum is only about a 10 minute drive away from my Bay View home. My latest foray to the museum was to see the Gertrude Abercrombie installation, which I highly recommend. Then again, I can recommend anything going on at the MAM.

IG: diamante.lara.milwaukee…read more the art is wack but it's a great place to take photos. Everything in there has zero value.

A good small art museum on the campus of Marquette University. Visited for the first time recently…read moreand was impressed with the special exhibit of photographs by Bill Tennessen, who documented the African American experience in Milwaukee, some events that I swear I attended. Dutch Masters and religious iconography represented, and a few outstanding representations of such; but Milwaukee Art Museum is still showing the Dutch Masters (Bader) exhibition, and the Haggerty felt slightly underwhelming by recent comparison. I love the story of the Keith Haring visit - faculty, staff and students got to paint in the characters, and the visit was well documented by Milwaukee media. Incredible showpiece upon entry. The small little museum that could! We visited the Saint Joan of Arc Chapel on the same day, check it out, too.

It is free, and there is street parking in front, but is it worth your time to go there if you…read morearen't in the neighborhood? Possibly not. If you are near by, I would recommend you pop in. The collection is very small, but it does have some interesting pieces. I think I might have enjoyed the architectures as much or more than the collection. It is probably not easy to visit the museum when the university is in session, as there probably won't be easy street parking.

Kids had a random day off, and that means museums! But it's a pandemic and in winter and this was…read moreseriously the only museum I could find that was open. But we like small museums too, so off we go. There is free street parking, but it's hard to figure out where the entrance is. It's off Main Street on the little drop-off loop, up a few stairs and under the "WAUKESHA COUNTY" sign. Inside there's a desk with a volunteer selling admission, except we were lucky and it was a free day! We still donated some money though. Part of the museum was closed for renovations. They're planning a big birthday exhibition soon. Most of the museum is the typical stuff you'd get at a historical society (including a research library), but the standout here is the Les Paul room. I thought it was very well done; the kids and I all liked it and learned a lot about out local guitar engineer. Definitely worth a trip out here atleast once. Plus it's a cute little town and even an after-museum walk along the Fox in winter is enjoyable.

Somewhere there's music How faint the tune…read moreSomewhere there's heaven How high the moon At the Waukesha County Museum, the music can be found high up on the 3rd floor, for this is the permanent home and exhibit of Waukesha's most famous son: Les Paul, aka, The Wizard of Waukesha. It's hard for me to put in words how much I respect Les Paul. He was a genius on so many fronts: guitarist extraordinaire, singer, songwriter, comedian, inventor, innovator and all around good guy. Not a day goes by in our lives where something we see or hear was not influenced by his technical advancements. Did you hear recorded music today? Les pioneered multi-track recording. How about Led Zeppelin? Jimmy Page's preferred electric guitar was a Gibson Les Paul. For that matter, if you heard rock and roll today, somewhere, somehow, Les's influence was there. So to be able to fork over only $7 to see some of Les's personal artifacts and mementos is a great deal to me. The museum has some other interesting artifacts too. In the Winter of 2014, the first floor exhibited items from the American Civil War. A few of the items were downright harrowing: whips, ball and chain, shackles--how could humans have done this to one another? And while it's not a huge museum--you can see the entire thing, thoroughly, in about 3 hours--it's a great way to while away a Saturday or Sunday winter afternoon. It's also in a building which is an interesting artifact itself--the former Waukesha County Courthouse built in 1893. My suggestion: start at the bottom and work your way up. You'll be saving the best part--the Les Paul exhibit--for last. The Waukesha County Museum. The best reason to visit Waukesha since spring water. Note: Waukesha was known as Spring City. People traveled from around the world to sip its water with "miraculous healing powers." Today that water has, for the most part, been replaced by Miller Lite.

We made advance reservations & parked in the complimentary lot across the street. Admission is…read more$19 per person, reduced for seniors, children, and free for members. The building is under construction, we entered through the gift shop. We showed our NARM card for free entry. We started with an informative film about the history of the Pabst Mansion. Fifty of us were on the tour, we were broken into 2 groups & I followed Molly throughout the house. She pointed out interesting pieces & fascinating stories. Our hour long tour of the Pabst Mansion was a fascinating:90. We learned about the home, Pabst family & details about the architecture and furnishings of the home while exploring the 1st through 3rd floors. This house had electricity, inside plumbing, a telephone, central heat & 10 bathrooms. In 1892, Captain Frederick & Maria Pabst completed construction of their mansion, It was designed by George Bowman Ferry and Alfred Charles Clas, & cost $254,000. These art collectors, filled their mansion with priceless treasures. During the years of the Pabst family's ownership, the house was the scene of many fine parties and receptions, a wedding & in the end, their funerals. The Pabst descendants sold the house in 1908 and for 60 yrs. was the archbishop's residence When it was sold in 1975, the mansion was nearly torn down but become a museum & was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Pabst Mansion certainly comes alive during Christmas time with whimsy and play amidst history…read moreand class. It's my favorite time to visit since each room is activated with holiday decor, festive cheer, and pops of color! Year after year, a team of volunteers help staff transform the Pabst Mansion into this whimsical exhibition adding to the MKE beer baron's living experience. Each year, the colors and decor changes adding a unique experience every holiday season! Times entry and same day tickets are available in advance or at the door, though "at the door" occurs at street level in an adjacent building. A very small free parking lot is up the hill onsite next to the mansion but additional free parking is available across the street and is labeled with signage. If you haven't had the chance to visit during the holiday season, I do recommend it as something different to do during the colder months!

I am obsessed with Ten Chimneys!!…read more The backstory is fascinating. This wonderful, glamorous Broadway couple found their way to the sweet little mid-west town of Genesee Depot is intriguing on it's own. Their summer home is lovely. I can feel the parties and good times that surely took place in years gone by. Everything has been lovingly preserved by those in charge and offer a wonderful glimpse into this adored couple's lives. The grounds are the perfect backdrop to the home. The entire estate gives off a quiet and relaxing vibe. It makes me understand why, on their time off, they would long to come home to Ten Chimneys. There were 2 tour times offered. Everyone takes a small bus from the starting point. A talented docent brings you on a detailed journey back in time and into the private world of Alfred Lunt and his wife Lynn Fontanne. Of course, there is a gift shop to visit after your tour. Be sure to check out the customer restrooms. The ladies room is glamorous with ladies finery and there is a huge King's throne in the mens room! Don't miss the walking tails if you want to take in a bit more nature!

As a classic film and theater nerd, Ten Chimneys holds a special place in my heart. The former home…read moreof Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, the home and grounds are impeccable and just they was as they Lunts left them. Thanks to some love from investors, their stories are preserved and memorialized through the maintenance of Ten Chimneys and the many individuals from all over the world who come to this tiny Wisconsin town to remember them and Hollywood's days gone by. Cross the same threshold that the likes of Vivien Leigh, Helen Hayes, Lawrence Olivier, Katharine Hepburn, Noel Coward, Alexander Woolcott, and so many others crossed, as you become part of the storied list of visitors. Tours must be arranged in advance.

This was my first time at the Lakefront Festival of the Arts but it certainly won't be my last! It…read morewas a perfect day to walk through the many tents lined up along the lakefront next to the MAM and I was pleasantly surprised by the vast selection of different artists from across the country and the very different styles /pieces available for purchase. Having the opportunity to talk with the artists and learn about their process is an extra special advantage to attending such an event. There is a seating area where food and beverage can also be purchased. Included with the Lakefront Festival of the Arts is admission into the Milwaukee Art Museum as well. If you happen to be a MAM member, the price is greatly discounted making this a must see event for the weekend! We did end up purchasing multiple items and I'm already looking forward to seeing what unique items I'll find next year!

I had an amazing time at this years Lakefront Festival of Art. For a modest $10, because of being a…read moremuseum member, I got some see some incredible art and have wonderful conversations with the artists. I specifically loved the photos printed on metal. After missing the last number of years, I remembered what a wonderful time the show is. I won't allow myself to stay away for so long in the future

I was lucky to be able to join the tour even though tickets were sold out online. I am so grateful…read morethey squeezed me in. I wouldn't recommend wandering around too much, certain parts did not feel safe to me. The tour, especially for students, is extremely cheap. They should charge more, especially since they are in need of funds! The tour was great. I learned a lot about the history of the block of houses. Each one has a different story and history. There is no AC in the houses. So plan accordingly if you have a hot summer day.

We toured these houses on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and it was a lot more interesting than I…read morewould have expected. I knew little about Frank Lloyd Wright and took the tour with my Dad who is an architect. It was a great experience for the both of us. Our guide was very knowledgeable and did a fabulous job. She really immersed us in the vision Wright had for these houses. We were lucky and got to tour the house that they just acquired and will be restoring soon. It isn't officially part of the standard tour just yet, but we happened to be before a special private tour so they let us check it out too. I would recommend this to anyone who is even mildly interested. The gift shop closes at 3, so be sure to grab any goodies before the tour if you are taking the 2pm.

Thanks Yelp, for the tickets. Without you, my husband and I probably would not have made it to this…read moreyear's event. The one building that we wanted to see was the Frank Lloyd Wright-built house on the corner of Burnham St. and Layton Blvd. The line to tour the house, as expected for any FLW tour, was long and moved slow and that was only because they were limiting the number of people allowed in the home at one time, as the house is currently occupied. The current tenant, a professor of architecture at UWM, was nice enough to greet each tour group. He shared a little history of the house as well as what it was like to live there. We also saw the Arthur C. and Leonora M. Votteler Manegold House located on the corner of Scott St. and Layton Blvd., and Fire Station 26 located at the corner of 26th and Scott streets. The history of both buildings was very interesting and sparked both of our interests in learning a bit more about architecture in Milwaukee. I kept the tour booklet so that I can visit some of the "exterior only" tour sites at my leisure throughout the rest of the year. I hope we can attend next year because there are several buildings/homes that I would love to check out and a lecture that sounds interesting. 106/2015

The is nothing like it anywhere!…read more Historic Milwaukee, Incorporated is an active group dedicated to the history of Milwaukee, and not just to the preservation of Milwaukee's architectural gems but to the celebration and general enjoyment of those gems. Two major events each year allow thousands of folks to enjoy them. The two annual events are Doors Open Milwaukee in September and the Spaces & Traces neighborhood tour each May. (I actually participated in a couple of the Spaces & Traces tours many years ago, as a member of a club, providing vintage automobiles to add a touch of authenticity to the subject neighborhood, but I digress.) Spaces & Traces has been a part of Milwaukee for 34 years. In 2015, Spaces & Traces returned to Layton Boulevard. Over a century ago, 27th Street was way out in the country, a part of the old Town of Wauwatosa. It was the site of a celery farm and summer homes for well-to-do Milwaukeeans. As the city grew outward, this stretch of 27th Street became Layton Boulevard and was supposed to be the new Gold Coast for Milwaukee. Some spectacular homes were built on Layton Boulevard but it never developed as such. Like its counterpart to the east, the area developed into an ethnicity diverse neighborhood with a myriad of churches and styles of homes. Some participants in this year's Spaces & Traces opened up their homes, allowing us a glimpse into life in the neighborhood in the early 20th Century. A home designed by Milwaukee's prolific architect, Alexander C. Eschweiler, was open on Layton Boulevard. Severely damaged by a 2002 fire and by fire fighter efforts to save it, the home is being lovingly restored by descendants of the second owner. The fire company that helped save the house is a block away and was also open for touring! The School Sisters of St. Francis were kind enough to open their facility, including tours of their chapels, one being the location of a talk by noted local historian, John Gurda, who gave us an informative talk about the growth, ethnicity and development of Layton Boulevard and the nearby Silver City neighborhood. Also open for touring this year were two of the six Frank Lloyd Wright designed American System homes. Wright envisioned several homes for moderate income American families. He advocated the construction of homes off site and assembled at the build site. Unlike a prefabricated home, Wright advocated the cutting and fabrication of components at a factory, then shipping them to the site for assembly. He claimed this "American System" would cut waste and reduce labor costs by requiring fewer craftsmen at the job site. Only a few examples of his American System Homes were built, including these rare structures on Burnham Street. As always, there were far more properties open than is (likely) possible for one person to tour, but what I did see, and learn about Milwaukee, was well worth my effort. Here's a thank you callout to our Yelp rep, Rachel F., for opening the Yelp connection with Historic Milwaukee! Thanks to Historic Milwaukee, to the hundreds of volunteers, Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin and especially thanks to the owners who opened their doors to us to see into the past. Don't miss Spaces & Traces next year - and I'll be looking for you at Doors Open Milwaukee in September!