By Wendy Bright
Architecture Milwaukee, my hometown labor of love, has been an online-only presence since 2020.
Facebook: @architecture.milwaukee
Instagram: @architecturemilwaukee
Twitter: @architectureMKE
But…let the walking tours begin! September 25-26 is the first weekend – Downtown Art Deco. Details below.
I also started a podcast last year, Cream City Windy City, that focuses on stories connecting Milwaukee and Chicago. Thus —> still using my trusty WendyCity website.
During this past difficult year and a half, I’ve been dreaming and scheming and researching and planning for Milwaukee architecture tours. We’re not through this pandemic yet, but there are precautions we can – and will – take. And we can carefully start to get out there again.
My new Milwaukee walking tours are based on over two decades of experience teaching architecture and history — not often in the classroom — but from the sidewalk, boats, buses, cars, L trains. Back in the ’90s I got my start as a Historic Milwaukee docent and a docent at the Cathedral of St. John. I worked as a tour guide for Rick Steve in Europe for a season. I am a certified Chicago tour guide and spent a decade working in the city. I’ve also given some 1,500 tours at historic house museums: Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate in Lexington, KY, and Glessner House – Clarke House in Chicago.
These Milwaukee architecture tours are also rooted in my love for my hometown. I grew up here and I raised my children here. Lots of memories and associations. But I moved away for over 15 years and coming back recently has opened my eyes to all the wonderful things about Milwaukee.
Our architecture – um…do we realize what we have here?! I’m still quite astonished at the things I never noticed when I lived here! It’s so much more interesting and significant than many of us realize.
I notice all of it now and deeply appreciate what we have here in Milwaukee. So I’d like to do my part to highlight and interpret our beautiful built environment.
I’ve got a lot of walking tours in the works. But first up:
Downtown Art Deco
Saturday, September 25th – 10 AM
Saturday, September 25th – 1 PM
Thank you to all of you who have bought tickets already.
This architecture walk is a journey back to the Jazz Age 1920s-30s. Downtown Milwaukee possesses a rich collection of Art Deco buildings. We will explore the various manifestations of Art Deco design with a focus on the elegant details, while learning the stories of each building and why they look the way they do.
2 hours, 1.5 miles of walking (accessible)
Meeting place: The Hilton Milwaukee City Center
Walk end: The Gas Light Building East Wisconsin & Van Buren
$20 per person (children under 12 free) – limit 12 guests per tour
I’ll have more specifics about social distancing, masks, inside/outside spaces, and will send to those who have bought tickets.
If you have any questions, contact me, Wendy, at: wendybrightmke@yahoo.com; 414.469.7532
I am looking forward to seeing you!
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