The Pabst Mansion certainly comes alive during Christmas time with whimsy and play amidst history and 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! read more

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We made advance reservations & parked in the complimentary lot across the street. Admission is $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. read more

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It's an old restored house if that is what you enjoy. Well done inside and you get a small taste of PBR! Parking and traffic is an issue. Gift store and more restrooms next door. read more

The Twilight Christmas Tour at the Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion was absolutely amazing! The mansion is filled with warm, festive lights, and every room was beautifully decorated with attention to detail. The soft lighting, sparkling trees, and history created a cozy atmosphere. There are also cocktails to purchase while you enjoy your experience! read more

The Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion - Museums Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Really enjoyed this museum more than I thought I would. With the classic guided tour, you get to see a few levels of the house and can bring a purchased beer with you as you learn. Bonus! I understand you can see some extra areas with the specialized tours. At about $20/pp, it's a little steep but it helps knowing that it all goes back to restoring this beautiful mansion. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and funny. Parking was a breeze (and free) across the street which is nice when you're downtown. There are some steps which is clearly posted on their website and they warn beforehand. This still came as a surprise to some others in the group but they also offer an elevator if needed. read more

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We hadn't been to the Pabst in 20+ years - we decided to visit because the house is all decorated for Christmas. I believe normally there is a guided tour but during Christmas it's self guided. That said, there's never a docent far away - they're happy to answer all your questions. I found them incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. The house is of course beautiful and very well preserved. Since it's the holidays, there was A BAR in the foyer serving up PBR and cocktails. That's my kind of museum! Know that they've changed things a bit - you need to check in at the visitor center which is directly next door. They have lockers to store your stuff, souvenirs and lots of MkE history. Also, they'll sell you drinks that you can take up to the mansion in the case that there's not a bar set up. Very Milwaukee in the best ways. read more

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We didn't get to go to the Pabst mansion on our last trip here so we prioritized it this time and I am glad we did! Our tour guide, Kathy, was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The history of the mansion, the town, and Pabst family was so amazing it left us speechless and wanting to learn more. Make sure you take the time to visit, this place is an amazing piece of history. read more

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Visiting the historic Pabst mansion during the holidays is always a treat. Each room is decorated by a different artist/company for Christmas, and the decor is different every year. The tours are self guided but docents are available throughout the three floors to answer any questions. They are quite knowledgeable and I learn something new every year. I did not go last year, but something new this year was a bar in the main entrance hall. Drinks were sold, alcoholic and non, along with decorative cookies, travel mugs and possibly a few other items. I did purchase a soda before leaving, but I was surprised to hear that I would have been able to walk around with an open drink. I urge everyone to be VERY careful about this for obvious reasons. The old atrium that used to serve as a gift shop/check in has been removed. I was told they took it apart brick by brick and cataloged everything, just like after the Chicago Worlds fair from which it came. I don't know if they plan to rebuild it on site or elsewhere though. The new gift shop and guest check in is right next door, so it's not much of a walk. Speaking of, if the parking on mansion grounds is full, there's a lot to park in right across the street. Again, just a short walk away. Photos are allowed of course, but NO flash and NO video. Please abide these rules. It can get crowded, and most guests are mindful to avoid getting in the way. But anything more than a quick shot really can disrupt the experience and traffic flow through the rooms. Especially since most rooms only have the one door to get in and out. This year was the first year I was able to see the third floor. In the past it had been unavailable to guests. It was a special experience and I was really intrigued by how different it looked from the other two floors. Please note that tickets can be purchased day of at the guest services next door, but it's recommended to buy them online in advance. I'm not sure if they limit daily traffic. read more

The Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion - Museums Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I have to say if you're into history and craftsmanship take the tour!! We went around Christmas so we got the privilege of seeing the mansion decorated for Christmas ! What a great time! The tour guides are very knowledgeable and friendly. Worth the time to go! What a beautiful house, the woodwork is just amazing!! It was a bit confusing to find it the GPS had us going in circles but once your there it's totally worth it!! read more

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My wife and I had a personal tour by Nikki R. and it was phenomenal, entertaining, and informative. Okay, I may be a little biased, but I didn't know she was such a wealth of information and history. It was especially delighted how she weaved in elements of the family, the artworks, the architecture, Milwaukee history, and even little facts and nuances of the area itself . . . It is too bad more of the mansions along Wisconsin Ave were not preserved. It was especially beautiful, given the Christmas decorations. The folks did an outstanding job; hats off to Roxy. I'd love to see more of the cabinetry of the room that has the humidor and would love to see it if any of secret doors are open!! read more

My husband and I went on PBR brewery tour a couple years ago and have been wanting to see the mansion as well, which we finally did! We made reservations for a Saturday afternoon at $17/person. We just did the regular guided tour, but they also had several specialty tours including a mimosa tour which sounded super enticing! We arrived about 20 minutes before the scheduled time. As a heads up, you have to go to the gift store next to the mansion first and then you walk as a group to the mansion for the tour itself. Our tour guide was very patient and knowledgeable. She guided us through the whole mansion where we were able to explore almost every room. We leaned about the Pabst family, the mansion, and their businesses. The house is beautiful and it was really cool to hear some of the stories that went along with the history of the building. The whole tour lasted a little more than an hour and while I did not feel rushed, I would've loved to spend some more time looking at all the things! read more

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Interesting tour that takes you back to a bygone era. Took almost 90 minutes, so the tour guides are very engaged in their mission and added a lot of context that helped keep you interested. Would recommend if you enjoy historical or house tours. read more

The Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion - Pabst Mansion - Museums Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Lovely historic home near Marquette in Milwaukee. We went to the Sunday morning mimosa tour and were very pleased with the tour, our guide, and this amazing home. It is incredible to hear about the history of the home and how it has changed and been restored over the years. Worth a visit to learn about the history of the Pabst family and German heritage in Milwaukee. read more

The Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion - Exterior - Museums Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I'm honestly not a big fan Pabst Blue Ribbon(who is?!), but the $16 guided tour of the Pabst Mansion was very interesting. The mansion itself does not look very large from the outside, but once you're inside the place it seems so more spacious! Most of the rooms have been restored to its historical accuracy, with all vintage furniture, decor, paintings, art works, and wallpaper taking you back in time to all its glory. The energetic tour guide shared some fun stories, interesting tidbits, and rich history of the Pabst family and mansion. Fascinating! read more

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Fun and interesting. I won't re-hash the tour for ya....if you are a person who likes local history, historical homes, finding out about the lives of the richie-riches of the turn of the 20th century....you will enjoy booking yourself on a tour of the Pabst Mansion. I had never been, and all those things are right up my alley so we put it on our must-see list for our visit to Milwaukee this summer. We reserved our tickets a day ahead of time, found parking in the small lot to the side of the mansion and headed in to the gift shop (not the mansion, not yet) to check in, watch the intro video, and get the tour run down before walking over to the mansion entrance. Our group was split in to two and the tour guides took us in alternate tour directions (more people per tour time, less crowded rooms). Our guide was the perfect level of informative and cheesy-funny. It wasn't terribly expensive, the tour lasts a little more than an hour, and you learn a little something. A great way to spend some time in Milwaukee. read more

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Beautiful place to tour. Volunteer working are friendly and helpful as well as informative. Park across the street (no charge), tour starts in the gift shop lol. Opposite of Disney, which always dumps you off in their expensive trinket stores! A little over done for Christmas, I would rather see the architecture than some gaudy decorations. But that's just my opinion. This family has an interesting history in Milwaukee. Do you research and attend the Best tour before you go here, you will know a lot more! read more

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For $15 per ticket this is a solid choice for the area to learn about the area and the famous Pabst PBR brewing history! You can go in their gift shop and watch an informative video in the are before the actual tour starts. We drove by the entrance which looked like the front of a church not figuring there was any parking. There's a small lot on site then across the street they appear to have reserved spots as well. Or the other option is just using one of the many 2 hr free spots around the corner. The tour guides from the other reviews all seem to be very engaging and entertaining. He welcomed any questions as they arose and we walked around the mansion. I forgot the fellow we had but he appeared to be on summer break at the local university. The mansion itself is gorgeous even though aside from the Best/Pabts family, the Archdiocese had a stint there as well living with much less grandiose. For comparison I was also thinking of the Newport, RI mansions littered all over by those filthy rich Rockerfeller family for their summer cottage. Only the first floor has AC so definitely may be more challenging with fans if it's a particularly hot day. I love how they've tried to restore many areas with funding and also recreate the living spaces during the time to preserve the atmosphere. You start on the first floor to see all of their various entertaining spaces then to the private chambers. Of course the tour then concludes with the help that keep all of the lavish lifestyle running with the servants quarters and area. I thought Captain Pabts' study area was very intriguing with the unique woodworking and puzzle chests/cabinets. Only thing I wish we could have seen was a demo of one or two of them! I understand that with a lot of use that could wear down over time. If you're visiting Milwaukee this is definitely a worthwhile place to visit. read more

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I loved the tour! You begin the tour on the front porch. I found it all very interesting without being too dry or bogged down with dates etc. the house is stunning and you can just feel its history and excellent architecture. East street parking and a lot across the street. They have a small gift shop as well read more

Didn't expect much when I decided to come here but this mansion is a serious work of art and I commend the people restoring it to its greatness. Every single room is different from the next. The wood work in this mansion is breath taking and the best part is you can drink during the tour. So much cool history but if I tell you any of it, it'll spoil the fun. The street this mansion sits on used to be full of mansion but the Pabst is one of the last, if not the last, mansions on the street. Really neat place and the staff made it even better. They also helped us learn how to pronounce "Oconomowoc" haha. If the Pabst coffee is there when you go, give it a try, it's dangerously delicious! I bought a bag of coffee beans with the mansion on the label and had a lot of self control because there was so much cute, and different, trinkets in the gift shop. This tour made me love Pabst even more. Thank you guys!! read more

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This was a very entertaining and informative tour. The house itself is amazing, with the majority of the house looking as it would have looked 100 years ago. Our guide was very knowledgable about the history of the house and did a great job. We enjoyed our visit and recommend that anyone visiting the area take the tour. Parking is also very easy for the early tours with a lot right across the street. read more

We had a fabulous time on the tour! Ken was incredibly informative and funny. The house was beautiful. So many fun facts about the city and the beer industry/Pabst. Highly recommend this tour for anyone on a trip to MKE! Thanks, Ken! read more

The disrespect towards families must be a thing. As soon as we stepped in for the tour, the lady that led the tour made a very made a comment that was completely unacceptable... then we immediately left and found out the main person called to give her a "heads up". Disgusting behavior read more

I have driven past this place countless times but I have never stopped for the tour so I finally did. The mansion is beautiful in and out with running water, phone, central heat, battery operated alarm system and a wall safe to name a few features. The tour takes you on all three floors but not the basement or the back building. The tour takes about an hour and you can take pictures but absolutely no videos. read more

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This is the first time I have visited during the holiday season and it was worth it! The 50 Christmas trees throughout the house were beautifully decorated, reflecting the room colors and styles. Speaking with the tour volunteers was helpful to create the story of the entire house and family who lived here. The history it tells is fascinating and worth learning. There is parking on the grounds (in the back) but plenty right across the street also. The ticket area is next door, to the west of the Mansion now that the building annex is no longer there. Knowing that the Pabst Mansion is one of the only remaining beautiful homes from the past it is imperative that we continue to support its future. The tickets are not expensive, and a self-guided tour allows you to take your time and appreciate all the designs and furnishings have to tell us. No matter what time of year you visit, the mansion is beautiful and worth learning about. read more

The Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion - 3rd floor hallway is filled with architecture that is sure to leave you speechless - Museums Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Self-guided tour of the mansion with people on every floor to answer questions. Beautiful Christmas decorations in the home, made this a nice visit. Good way to spend an afternoon. read more

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We loved the tour here. The house is huge and so richly appointed/beautiful. The guide was excellent and told us all about the family and Captain Pabst. Really fun and informative way to spend a part of your day in Milwaukee! read more

What a great tour! Very informative guide beautiful home. So much history and such a generous man.

I can't believe it's taken me this long to see this place! Had a staycation day recently and we decided to go on a tour of The Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion. Built in 1892, the mansion is absolutely enchanting. For your $14 admission, you are afforded a docent guided tour. Our tour was fascinating and the docent was incredibly knowledgeable. The tour lasts a little over an hour, though we were so charmed, the time flew by. I've heard the mansion gets wonderfully decked out inside for the holidays, so definitely looking forward to making a visit here a part of our holiday traditions. If you have any interest in history, Milwaukee history, architecture, historical interior design, or beautiful spaces--consider the Pabst Mansion a must-see. Get to it! read more

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Thanks Ophelia for the recommendation to come here! Had been on my to-do list for some time. It's amazing to think about people living here back in the day. They had a huge servants quarters! The story on how the mansion was saved from the wrecking ball-actually, being turned into a parking lot-is inspiring. It's been an amazing amount of work put into the restoration of this mansion, and I am so grateful to the visionary people that did that. No walkie has a lot of great architecture. It used to have a lot more, so I appreciate people that saw the need to save this beautiful building. read more

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Went to Pabst Mansion with hubby and family. Had a great time! Our tour guide/docent was great, very knowledgeable and descriptive. Mansion is beautifully kept, intricate, and immaculate. Costs about $17/person which is pretty reasonable. The docent gave us an extensive tour and provided the history regarding the mansion, the people who lived there, the beer company, etc. Great part of Milwaukee's history! They apparently have a bunch of different tours including Christmas tours. Very beautiful! They also have a gift shop which apparently shows a movie which we unfortunately missed. Would definitely recommend stopping by and enjoying the tour! read more

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The Pabst Mansion tour was slightly underwhelming. It's basically a really old building that has been restored to "Look" like its original state, but during the tour, our tour guide kept saying that the materials used in the restoration were not really from the time period of the original Mansion. Literally every statement was a qualifier that the items were not really that old. Plus, due to fire codes and other rules, you will see items completely out of the ordinary to keep the building "up to code". If you look closely, you see modern locks, electrical outlets, etc. The best part of the tour was the explanation about the various breweries in Milwaukee and the almost "gangster" way they continually bought each other out, merged companies, and competed with each other for the highest share of the market. So, interesting to learn a little history of the beer industry, but the mansions days are numbered and needs to go. Also, somewhat expensive for the tickets. There is also the obligatory "merchandise" store for souvenirs next door. read more

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If you love history, architecture and Xmas as much as I do, this is a must visit! I was blown away by the decor and the choir singing carols added so much to the experience! One of the best places to inject some holiday cheer and magic in your heart in Milwaukee. We are coming back after Christmas for a full guided tour, the story behind the mansion is absolutely fascinating! read more

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What a beautiful place! We've been wanting to come here for quite sometime and I'm so glad we ended up coming during Christmas time. The decorations are amazing, everything is so pretty. The staff is very nice and very willing to answer any questions we had. You can tell they are very knowledgeable and enjoy what they're doing. I can't wait to go back during one of their night tours where they take you to the basement and tell you some of the darker stories! I took 95 pictures while we were there so here's just a few, check it out if you can! read more

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My wife is usually not a fan of these house turned into museum tours but she enjoyed this one. We did self guided tour and it was about 40 minutes although they give you an hour. read more

The tour was something cool to do. There were about 15 of us in our group. Tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history. Tour is about an hour long. The detail in the home was gorgeous. read more

The tour was great. We learned a lot and the overall knowledge of the staff was great. We got to explore the house and they pointed out very interesting details. read more

What a fabulous mansion, I can't believe that someone wanted to demolish it to build a parking space, I'm am glad that it was saved and that we are able to visit/tour it. It has an elevator so those of us who can't got up three flights of stairs we can still enjoy it. The is no wheel chair accessibility onto the first floor that could see. I recommend this place. Our guide was knowledgeable and nice. read more

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This is an interesting mansion, built in 1890, that we were told was not the most fancy on the main road here that was, at one time, full of mansions. This is on Wisconsin Avenue that used to be called Grand Avenue, it would be neat to go back and see it in, say, 1900. The house/mansion itself is incredibly detailed in ornamentation and neat to imagine people living there. Interesting, to me, is that it didn't seem as big as I imagined, particularly depth-wise from front to back. This supports, I suppose, that it was not the most fancy mansion on the avenue back in the day. The entrance takes you through what was the pavilion exhibit in the famous Chicago Columbian Exposition of 1893 - the White City of the very interesting book "Devil in the White City" by Erik Larsson. This pavilion was apparently added onto the house itself after the exhibition and makes for a neat addition to the house. All in all, this is a neat tour that takes maybe 30-60 minutes and for $15 (in 2022) is reasonably priced. read more

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Just starting or trying to start the tour of the mansion, why would you go the mansion to start the tour? After walking around the mansion and testing every locked door, I called the phone number and find out the tour starts at another building down the driveway to the right? The lady at the shop just said to wear a sticker "so they know you are on the tour". As I sat my self down on a chair with no other information, I don't feel welcomed or even interested in the mansion at this point. Balmy 37 degrees trying to find my way around. read more

The Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion - Just sitting waiting for "them" to know I am part of the tour. ‍ - Museums Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I love mansions. To be in one is an exclusive treat. This one here is no exception. Barb was our tour guide. All tours are with a guide. She was detailed, funny and perfect for tour. Not much to say but I learned a lot about the Pabst history. I admit I never tried any of their products. Beautiful decor. They are still restoring parts of the mansion. The only one left in the area. A must see. read more

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