N
Take the Riverwalk tour instead
The guide hadn’t checked the route for a wheelchair so the person in a wheelchair missed parts of the tour. The guide spoke too much about her personal experiences and too little about history.
Downtown Milwaukee Walking Tour
+3 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1h 30min–2h
- Price from
- $16 / person
- Location
- Milwaukee
- Rating
- 4.3 / 5 · 4 reviews
- Languages
- EN, EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 20
- Cancellation
- See policy below
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Historic Milwaukee
- Meeting point
- We meet at the Milwaukee Store which is located at 235 E. Michigan St. (on the corner of Michigan St. and Broadway).
Description
Downtown Milwaukee's growth began around the intersection of N. Water St. and E. Wisconsin Ave. but expanded quickly as the small settlement became a large city. If you are looking for an introduction to Milwaukee's history, this is the best place to start. The tour will explore this commercial district from the earliest beginnings at the river's edge all the way to the modern office buildings along Lake Michigan's shore. Stops on the tour include a variety of architectural styles including Alexander Eschweiler's Art Deco Gas Light Building (1930), the Richardsonian Romanesque style Federal Building (1892), and Northwestern Mutual's Neoclassical Headquarters (1914). This walking tour is 1 mile in length. We recommend that travelers bring (weather permitting): good walking shoes, water, sunscreen, and/or umbrella.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our tour will begin inside the Historic Milwaukee Store located at 235 E. Michigan St., formerly known as the Grain Exchange, now referred to as the Mackie Building. The Mackie Building is a building designed by E. Townsend Mix and built in 1879 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which housed Milwaukee's Grain Exchange Room, now converted into an events space.
Milwaukee Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse
The tour will walk east along Wisconsin Ave. passing the Federal Building.
The tour will pass the Gas Light Building. This Art Deco building was designed by architects Eschweiler & Eschweiler and completed in 1930
Milwaukee Art Museum
The tour will end by the Milwaukee Art Museum.
What's included
Included
Audio Headsets
Not included
Tips (not required but appreciated)
Traveller Ratings
4.3
4 reviews
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for travelers who can not walk or use a mobility device for one mile
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
0+ days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Downtown Milwaukee Walking Tour take?
Downtown Milwaukee Walking Tour lasts about 1h 30min–2h. The itinerary has 4 stops.
How much does Downtown Milwaukee Walking Tour cost?
Prices start at $16 per person for this Milwaukee experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Downtown Milwaukee Walking Tour for free?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is We meet at the Milwaukee Store which is located at 235 E. Michigan St. (on the corner of Michigan St. and Broadway). Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Downtown Milwaukee Walking Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN, EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 20 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Reviews(4)
K
Milwaukee Walking Tour
Loved it! Highly recommend. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and we learned so much about the history of Milwaukee.
P
Fantastic!!
The historic walking tour was excellent! Our guide, Emily, was fabulous. She was knowledgeable and engaging, and really knew her history. We highly recommend this tour!!
R
A tour of downtown architecture and a second of different city sites
My husband and I did two tours, one that focused on downtown architecture(current buildings and their history). We ended at Lake Michigan where there is an art museum with a spectacular view of Lake Michigan. The second tour took us farther along the river and included areas we had not yet seen. Both guides were good and provided a lot of information about the downtown area and its history.
Compare similar tours in Milwaukee
- Lowest price: Milwaukee Historic Downtown Self Guided Walking Tour — $10
- Best rated: Jeffrey Dahmer American Cannibal Walking Tour — 4.4 (90 reviews)
- Shortest: Private Downtown Milwaukee Helicopter Ride — 10 min–15 min
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Milwaukee Walking Tour | 1h 30min–2h | 4.3 (4) | $16 | |
 Milwaukee Historic Downtown Self Guided Walking Tour | 1h–1h 30min | 4.4 (17) | $10 | View |
 Jeffrey Dahmer American Cannibal Walking Tour | 1h 30min | 4.4 (90) | $67 | View |
 Private Downtown Milwaukee Helicopter Ride | 10 min–15 min | 4.9 (9) | $117 | View |
 Milwaukee Downtown Ghost Tour - The Shadow of City Hall | 1h 30min–2h | 4.4 (8) | $32 | View |
 Milwaukee's Riverwalk Walking Tour | 1h 30min–2h | 5.0 (2) | $16 | View |
 Historic Third Ward Walking Tour | 1h 30min–2h | 5.0 (2) | $16 | View |
from$16
4.3(4) Free cancellation