Free Museums in Waukesha

"The previous day was largely car-based, so we chose to leave the car at the hotel and explore on foot instead. Our first stop: the Milwaukee Art Museum, maybe 15 minutes from the hotel. I’m not someone to make kids spend hours in a museum, especially when the weather outside is nice, but I wanted to see the rooftop of the museum (large wings designed by Santiago Calatrava that open a couple of times a day), and I always like exposing the kids to art."

"One of the largest museums globally, the Milwaukee Art Museum has over 25,000 works in its collection. It first opened in 1882."

"This museum has plenty of fun for those a few years shy of getting their motorcycle license. Interactive exhibits showcase the extraordinary products, people, history, and culture of this iconic American company. Little visitors can get their photo taken on one of the bikes in the Experience Gallery, and can try on a pint-sized leather jacket and rev the engine on a bike that’s just their size in the Imagination Station."

"Pose for a photo with the company founders, see the oldest known Harley Davidson motorcycle (knowns as “Serial Number One”, rev up your engines in the engine room, rummage through discvoery drawers filled with vintage toys and trinkets, make your own custom creation at the build-a-bike station, and much more!"

"One of Milwaukee’s biggest claims to fame is Harley Davidson. If you’re an avid road warrior or even an occasional rider, you’ll find the Harley Davidson Museum an absolute blast. As one of the premier things to do in Milwaukee, make sure to check it out."

"The Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) is an excellent place to pass a few hours exploring its many collections and exhibits. Highlights include fascinating natural history displays of life-size dinosaurs and a reconstruction of a tropical rainforest, as well as a presentation of Milwaukee's past in the "Streets of Old Milwaukee" exhibit. Other popular permanent exhibits (the museum boasts 17 all told) include displays related to the continents of Africa, Asia, and the Arctic; a village with reconstructions of homes from Europe; and a variety of diorama scenes relating to the region's native populations."

"This human and natural history museum is home to surefire kid-pleasers like dinosaurs, mummies, live butterflies, and immersive life-size dioramas. Step into the tropical rainforest, take a peek below the surface of the ocean, and travel back in time to the early days of Milwaukee."

"Milwaukee's only museum designed specifically for kids ages 10 and younger, featuring hands-on exhibits and interactive programs. Step inside Home Town, a kid-sized community where kids can explore a manufacturing exhibit, post office, construction site, TV studio and more. Kids will discover exciting hands-on exhibits that teach them about healthy lifestyles, art, trains and rotating special exhibits."

"A post shared by Betty Brinn Museum (@bettybrinnchildrensmuseum) on Apr 22, 2019 at 11:09am PDT. Don’t let the name museum fool you, The Betty Brinn Museum is a paradise for kids of all ages. Watch as your kids showcase their creativity and talents as they get busy crafting converting their imagination into reality."

"Milwaukee’s only museum designed specifically for children 10 and younger. Kids learn about the world around them through making, doing, and exploring in exhibits like Home Town, a kid-sized community complete with a grocery store, TV station, post office, and even a Harley-Davidson dealership!"

"In the Grohmann’s primary exhibit, The Man at Work, find an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures – billed as “the world’s most comprehensive” – showcasing the evolution of human work over time. If you visit, be sure to check out the rooftop sculpture garden as well. Great for its views of that part of downtown, but even more spectacular for the workmanship atop the roof."

"The Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum was opened for the public in 1987 and exists with the main aim of documenting and preserving the rich historical heritage of all the African descent in Wisconsin. The Museum collects, exhibits as well as disseminates several materials that represent this heritage. The Museum has been serving as a resource centre right for all the people who might be...Read more"

"The mission of the Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum is to document and preserve the historical heritage of African descent in Wisconsin."

"A physics professor from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee opened the Manfred Olson Planetarium in 1965. Today, this planetarium will pique the interest of any visitor, particularly those interested in science. The facility is equipped with digital projectors and visual effects, all of which provide a stimulating visual experience."

"The War Memorial Center, completed in 1957, was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen to create a new home for two previously separate art collections and a veterans’ memorial. The modernist building is shaped like a floating cross, with wings cantilevered from a central base. Saarinen’s innovative design won praise for its dramatic use of space; Time magazine called it “one of the country’s finest examples of modern architecture put to work for civic purposes."

"The Milwaukee County War Memorial Center is a living memorial to “Honor the Dead by Serving the Living.” Its educational experiences bring to life this memorial and tell the stories of the veterans who served and sacrificed for our freedom. Over 50,000 veterans and 140,000 visitors rely on the Center each year."

"The Lynden Sculpture Garden is the former home of Harry and Peg Bradley. In May 2010, they opened their doors to the public, permitting everyone to enjoy the tranquility and beauty for which these 40 acres of woodlands have become famous. The lovely lakeside park is studded with intriguing sculptures, while the inside galleries hold contemporary exhibits that contain thought-provoking paintings and other works on paper."

"If sculpture art is more your thing, head to Lynden Sculpture Garden, which is about the same drive as to Hales Corners, and still in the city of Milwaukee, near where I-43 meets West Brown Deer Road. Its 40 acres are open year-round and filled with ponds, sculpture art and rotating exhibits, a grand place to work off all the food you ate earlier in Walker’s Point."

"The experience of monumental sculptures in nature is great for families. Weekly "art drop-in" sessions introduce kids 6-11 to a new artmaking technique."

"Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53215 1st Sunday of each month (April – December, excluding holidays)1:00 PM – 4:00 PM or by appointment Free admissionWebsite. The Fire Museum features a vintage bunk room, alarm area and fire officers office. It is one of five fire stations of this style built in 1927."

"For those interested in cultural activities such as classical music and theater, the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts should be on your itinerary. This fine facility - known for its Brutalist architectural styling - was built in 1969 and is home to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Florentine Opera, both of which offer a regular season of performances, as does the Milwaukee Ballet. It's also home to the First Stage Children's Theater, which offers a variety of fun programming young and old alike will enjoy."

"The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is home to eight arts groups: the Milwaukee Symphony and Youth Symphony orchestras; Milwaukee Ballet; Florentine Opéra Company; Black Arts Milwaukee; First Stage Theater; Optimist Theatre; and Suemo Dance Company. It also features travelling shows through its Broadway in Milwaukee series."

"The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is located in the heart of downtown and has so many great photo spots both inside and outside the building. Photos by Front Room Photography."

"Built by the influential Milwaukee businessman and newspaper publisher George Brumder in 1910, today the Brumder Mansion Bed and Breakfast is testament to Milwaukee’s golden age of industry. Designed in the English arts and crafts style, the mansion is home to one of Milwaukee’s finest bed and breakfasts – offering some of the best lodging and entertainment options in the city. The building has been renovated to include whirlpool spas in each of the suites, making the Brumder Mansion Bed and Breakfast one of the premier historic lodgings in Milwaukee."

"In lieu of a printed menu, servers pepper customers at this throwback bar with questions on their cravings to nail the perfect order for each. Dating by to the early 1940s, and under new ownership since 2008, Bryant’s has earned acclaim and award nominations for its 400-drink-strong library of cocktails. Sips with a retro bent might include Pink Squirrel (reportedly invented by original owner Bryant Sharp) or an Old Fashioned (Wisconsin’s unofficial cocktail)."

"It takes a minute for your eyes to adjust to the dim lighting at this 81-year-old institution—a den so dark it renders the innate need to Instagram it all mute. Focus on the drinks instead, classic and contemporary recipes pulled from a secret menu of more than 450 cocktails. Tell your bartender what you're in the mood for and they'll whip up something extra special."