Milwaukee is dedicated to keeping our history alive. Thanks to a large catalog of historic photographs, we can view today what our city looked like many years ago. Brew City’s roots run far back into history, but you can still see glimpses of our past to this. Here are some of the oldest photos taken of the Good Land.
1876: The Mitchell Building, which is said to have housed Milwaukee’s first mayor.
Wikimedia Commons / Photographer W. H. Sherman, Public Domain
1880: The Leif Ericsson statue in Juneau Park.
Library of Congress / Public Domain
1890: A view of the harbor, as beautiful as ever.
Detroit Publishing Co. / Library of Congress / Public Domain
1890: A sight of Pabst Brewery.
Detroit Publishing Co. / Library of Congress / Public Domain
1890: A view down the Milwaukee River from Wisconsin Street (now Wisconsin Avenue).
Detroit Publishing Co. / Library of Congress / Public Domain
1900: Wisconsin Street. You can see the Pabst building!
Detroit Publishing Co. / Library of Congress / Public Domainv
1900: Horse-drawn delivery trucks used to transport beer for Schlitz Brewery.
Library of Congress / Public Domain
1901: City Hall stands tall above the rest of the skyline.
Wikimedia Commons / Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company / Public Domain
1901: The Pfister Hotel (that we all know to be haunted) in its prime.
Detroit Publishing Co. / Library of Congress / Public Domainv
1901: The Central Public Library shortly after it was established in 1899.
Detroit Publishing Co. / Library of Congress / Public Domainv
1914: The Milwaukee Turnverein gymnasium, now known as Turner Hall, is still fully operating as a gym and acts as a concert venue.
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
1936: Residential houses on the north side.
Library of Congress / Public Domain
1939: The drawbridges that hold up traffic today were just as frustrating to drivers in the 30s.
Library of Congress / Public Domain
1939: The Courthouse stands tall.
Library of Congress / Public Domain
1952: Milwaukee War Memorial, pre-Art Museum.
Library of Congress / Public Domain
1964: Milwaukee’s east side booming with business.
Library of Congress / Public Domain
Did you imagine that this is how Milwaukee used to look? What do you think? Share your thoughts below!
Wikimedia Commons / Photographer W. H. Sherman, Public Domain
Library of Congress / Public Domain
Detroit Publishing Co. / Library of Congress / Public Domain
Detroit Publishing Co. / Library of Congress / Public Domainv
Wikimedia Commons / Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company / Public Domain
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
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