About the Museum
Major natural and human history museum with extensive Wisconsin and Great Lakes exhibits. Features European Village, Streets of Old Milwaukee, Native American heritage displays, and collections documenting region's brewing, manufacturing, and immigrant history.
As Wisconsin's natural history museum welcoming over half a million visitors annually, MPM houses more than 4 million objects across three floors of life-size dioramas and walk-through exhibits. The museum's most beloved attraction, Streets of Old Milwaukee, transports visitors to Victorian-era streetscapes where they can stroll past turn-of-the-century businesses, peer through the original Pfister Hotel doors, and experience daily life in Milwaukee's historic downtown. This immersive exhibit recreates the city's brewing, manufacturing, and commercial heritage with authentic storefronts and period details.
The European Village represents 33 different cultures through carefully recreated homes and shops as they appeared between 1875 and 1925. From Austrian to Welsh traditions, each space reflects the daily life, skills, and customs of the immigrants who shaped Milwaukee's cultural identity. Visitors can explore German beer gardens, Polish shops, Italian markets, and Irish cottages, gaining insight into the diverse European heritage that made Milwaukee a center of immigrant culture in the Great Lakes region.
Beyond cultural exhibits, MPM features extensive natural history collections including dinosaurs, a walk-through rainforest, and a live butterfly garden. The Daniel M. Soref Dome Theater & Planetarium was the first in the world to use the Digistar 6 computer projection system, offering 3D animations and virtual journeys from Mt. Everest to prehistoric Earth. The museum will remain at its current downtown location through January 3, 2027, before moving to a new world-class building and becoming the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin.
Plan Your Visit
The Milwaukee Public Museum is located at 800 W Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee. The museum welcomes over 500,000 visitors annually across three floors of exhibits, including Streets of Old Milwaukee, European Village, and the Daniel M. Soref Dome Theater & Planetarium. Note: The museum will remain at this location through January 3, 2027, before transitioning to a new facility as the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin. For current hours and admission pricing, call (414) 278-2702 or visit mpm.edu.
Getting Involved
Support the Milwaukee Public Museum by becoming a member, volunteering, or donating during this historic transition period. With more than 4 million objects in its collection and beloved exhibits like Streets of Old Milwaukee and European Village, your support helps preserve Wisconsin's natural and human history for future generations. The museum welcomes artifact donations related to Milwaukee's immigrant heritage, brewing industry, and Great Lakes history.
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