Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All United States Wisconsin Milwaukee

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Milwaukee

24 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Updated March 14, 2023

Email
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Hotel Deals

Unusual Attractions in Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

American Science & Surplus

Robots, lasers, and whoopee cushions, oh my!
A restored Wright house on the Burnham Block.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Frank Lloyd Wright's Burnham Block

Six tiny houses built for working class people form the largest intentional cluster of Wright homes anywhere.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Safe House

A place to eat for on-the-run agents and espionage enthusiasts.
During the daytime, there are enough swings beneath the bridge that there's usually an open seat!

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Swing Park

An off-the-beaten-path place to literally hang beneath Milwaukee's Holton Street Bridge.
The Domes.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Mitchell Park Domes

A unique botanical garden housed in three giant geodesic domes.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Art Museum

This striking art museum holds an amazing series of curiosity cabinets.
Mansion Exterior

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pabst Mansion

A giant, Gilded Age mansion that once belonged to the beer baron of Milwaukee.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Shaker's Cigar Bar

Once a speakeasy operated by Al Capone, this Milwaukee cigar bar is now a haven for ghost hunters.
See All 24 Things To Do in Milwaukee

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Safe House

A place to eat for on-the-run agents and espionage enthusiasts.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

11 Zany Collections That Prove Wisconsin's Quirkiness

Pick an object. It could be a bottle of mustard. Or a life-size troll sculpture. Or a metal sculpture with big Victorian-steampunk energy. It doesn't really matter, as long as you collect or create so many of them that your collection becomes a roadside attraction and a cherished local landmark. A remarkable number of Wisconsinites have chosen this life path, and the result is a truly remarkable collection of collections scattered across the state. As the pandemic continues, we hope this virtual trip helps you explore America’s wonders. If you do choose to venture out, please follow all guidelines, maintain social distance, and wear a mask.

View Itinerary

Explore Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Avatar image for Rebekah Otto
    Rebekah Otto
    2
  2. Avatar image for rachelemkrivichi
    rachelemkrivichi
    2
  3. Avatar image for PaperTiger
    PaperTiger
    1
  4. Avatar image for Rachel
    Rachel
    1
  5. Avatar image for tkillems
    tkillems
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Milwaukee.

Places Edited

  1. Avatar image for mocchiatto
    mocchiatto
    5
  2. Avatar image for Michael Busch
    Michael Busch
    3
  3. Avatar image for Nicholas Jackson
    Nicholas Jackson
    3
  4. Avatar image for Busyscoutmom
    Busyscoutmom
    2
  5. Avatar image for Blindcolour
    Blindcolour
    2
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. U
    uforiax
    19
  2. J
    jjskiddlescrum
    18
  3. B
    brrad
    17
  4. A
    aparker1
    17
  5. S
    Scriv
    17
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Milwaukee.

Recent Milwaukee Activity

  • M

    musicartsmaniac

    has been to Mitchell Park Domes

  • M

    musicartsmaniac

    wants to go to North Point Water Tower

  • Z

    ZMarshall

    wants to go to National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum

  • C

    ceasterling

    wants to go to America's Black Holocaust Museum

  • M

    maryfran

    wants to go to Renaissance Book Shop

Stories About Milwaukee

Treasure hunter Tom Klein believes the statue of John Plankinton in Milwaukee's Plankinton Arcade is one of the clues to The Secret's buried treasure.

Hunting for 'The Secret' Treasure Buried in Milwaukee

Has this couple finally found fantasy author Byron Preiss’s hidden treasure?
by Tea Krulos
March 14, 2023
A member of the Milwaukee Krampus Eigenheit was one of dozens of furry, horned menaces swatting onlookers with switches during the annual Milwaukee Krampusnacht.

Krampus Is the Christmas Icon We Need—And Maybe the One We Deserve

At Milwaukee’s Krampusnacht, we go in search of the essence of Santa’s unholy enforcer.
by Gemma Tarlach
December 9, 2022
After closing in 2008 and becoming an online museum in 2012, America's Black Holocaust Museum reopened in February 2022 in a sleek new building in Milwaukee's Bronzeville, the historic hub of the city's Black community.

A Revived Museum Presents the Full History of Black America

America's Black Holocaust Museum reopens in the historic hub of Milwaukee's African American community.
by Beck Salgado
February 24, 2022
Pneumonia fronts may be accompanied by low shelf clouds, and may travel several miles inland from Lake Michigan.

What the Heck Is a Pneumonia Front?

The explanation behind a "drastic," bone-chilling, mysterious weather event in the Upper Midwest.
by Gemma Tarlach
June 2, 2021

Podcast: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Burnham Block

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
April 13, 2021
Ernie's training culminated with a parking-lot demonstration of sniffing prowess.

The Milwaukee Dogs That Learned to Sniff Out New Zealand Mud Snails

In a Wisconsin basement, two Labradors learned to detect tiny aquatic hitchhikers.
by Ashley Stimpson
January 11, 2021
An image from the 1931 cookbook Recipes The Modern Pabst-ett Way.

When the Government Banned PBR, Pabst Made Cheese Instead

Selling dairy products helped the brewery survive Prohibition.
by Mark Hay
April 7, 2020

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Puzzles
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Trips Blog
  • Art & Culture Trips
  • Food Trips
  • Hidden City Trips
  • History Trips
  • Wildlife & Nature Trips
  • FAQ
  • Experiences
  • Online Courses
  • Online Experience FAQ
  • Online Course FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2023 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.