Happy Milwaukee Day! To show our love for the 414 on 4-14, here are 14 cool things to see only a Milwaukeean would know about and how to get there by riding MCTS.
America’s Black Holocaust Museum
Address: 401 W. North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Routes: 19, 21, 34 & 80
America’s Black Holocaust Museum was originally founded by Dr. James Cameron, the only known survivor of a lynching, who later passed in 2006. The museum’s facility houses several exhibits, showcasing over 400 years of history. It displays a chronological journey of African American life to increase public awareness of the damaging legacy of slavery and Jim Crow system of laws in the United States. The founder envisioned the museum offering hope, depicting a society that reconciles with and remembers its past in order to heal the future.
American Science & Surplus
Address: 6901 W. Oklahoma Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53219
Route: 51
Whether you need robot parts, tiny hands for a photoshoot with your cat, or your run-of-the-mill rubber chicken, American Science & Surplus is every kid’s dream, and fun for any age. You can roam the aisles for hours looking at each little trinket. They also specialize in science and have educational demos for you to check out.
Black Cat Alley
Address: E. Ivanhoe Pl, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Routes: 21 & 30
Located in the heart of Milwaukee's East Side, Black Cat Alley is essentially an art piece tucked away in the alley running parallel to Prospect Ave. or Farwell Ave. between Ivanhoe Pl. and Kenilworth Pl. If you enjoy public art, fun adventures in Milwaukee, and a free place to go, no matter the weather, this is a must-see for you.
Burnham Park Food Truck Zone
Address: On Burnham at Burnham Park, 3300 W. Burnham St, Milwaukee, WI 53215
Routes: 35 & 54
Adjacent to Burnham Park on Milwaukee’s south side, this food truck zone is home to upwards of 10 food trucks. Have a hankering for some tortas, ice cream or birria? Well, this is the place to be. Hop off the Route 35 or 54 and mosey over to the intersection of Burnham and 35th Street to fill your belly with some of the City’s best food truck finds.
Cactus Club
Address: 2496 S Wentworth Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Route: 53
The Cactus Club is "an artist-run, queer-owned, multi-disciplinary arts and performance space” located in the heart of Bay View. For going on 30 years, the venue has hosted many famous acts like Bright Eyes, the White Stripes, and Death Cab for Cutie. Now the Club has expanded its niche from indie bands to a “cultural hub and national destination.”
Don’s TV & Repair Speakeasy
Address: 1100 S. 1st St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Route: 15
Operating under the disguise of an old tv and repair shop, this diner and speakeasy has become one of Milwaukee’s must-see hidden gems. Located in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood, right on the Route 15, Don’s is just the place to satisfy your desire for classic burgers and shakes, and to take a step back in time. Book your “Service Appointment” today, but don’t forget the secret password to get in!
Ladybug Building
Address: 622 N. Water St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Routes: 15, 18, 57 & GreenLine
It’s a bird, it’s a plane...no it’s three giant ladybugs! These six-foot-tall ruby beetles reside on the west side of the Milwaukee Building at 622 North Water Street. The fiberglass bugs were designed by property manager John J. Burke and installed with the help of a cherry picker in 1999, and have been a public art staple of downtown Milwaukee ever since.
Milwaukee County Zoo Mold-a-rama
Address: Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226
Routes: CONNECT 1 & Waukesha County Route 1
We haven't even talked about them yet, but we know that signature plastic smell has washed over your memory like a massive wave from Lake Michigan lashing against the Milwaukee shoreline. For just $5, you can watch in wonder as the Mold-a-rama machine crafts your wax souvenir. Once it’s done and plops to the collection area, you get to take out the warm animal, train, Santa, etc., and place it upside down in your kid’s stroller until it cools, all the while regaling about your past with your fellow zoo-goers. The Milwaukee County Zoo has upwards of 10 machines, so keep an eye out in all the nooks and crannies of each animal exhibit.
Milwaukee Public Museum Rattlesnake Buttons
Address: 800 W. Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53233
Routes: 12, 19 & BlueLine
The Milwaukee Public Museum welcomes over 550,000 visitors each year, but not all of them know about these two very special features tucked away within their respective exhibits: the infamous rattlesnake buttons. One button is located near the butterfly exhibit at the “Exploring Life on Earth” Montana badlands exhibit on the 1st floor, and the other, probably more popular button, resides on the 2nd floor in the “Bison Hunt” exhibit, which teaches the history of Native Americans. As long as you’re willing to look in unexpected places, you’ll be able to find them.
Mitchell Park Domes
Address: 524 S. Layton Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53215
Route: PurpleLine
Where else can you experience a tropical jungle, desert oasis and lush, floral gardens all in one day? The Mitchell Park Domes are one of Milwaukee’s most unique destinations, housing a collection of over 1,800 plant species and playing host to five seasonal shows each year. The Domes are open all year round and hold special events and educational programs within the conservatory space.
National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum
Address: 170 S. 1st St 2nd floor, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Routes: 15, 18 & GreenLine
Did you know Milwaukee is the only museum in the world dedicated to bobbleheads!? Featuring more than 10,000 bobbleheads, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum is fun for folks of all ages! Not just for sports fans, the museum also features bobbleheads from pop culture, politics, TV, movies and more!
Safehouse Password
Address: 779 N. Front St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Routes: 15, 18, 57 & GreenLine
Find the iconic Red Door in an alleyway near the Milwaukee River. Once you’re inside, you’ll get a sensory overload of cool artifacts related to espionage. You’ll be able to see a piece of the Berlin Wall, and a cell door from a KGB prison, along with posters from James Bond movies. Speaking of, if you want your martini really shaken, not stirred, the bartender will send a shaker with your drink through a 600-foot pneumatic tube. But the big question is: do you know the password to the Safehouse? If not, you’ll have to prove your worth to the speakeasy’s bouncer before gaining entry.
Sherman Phoenix
Address: 3536 W. Fond du Lac Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53216
Routes: 35, 66 & BlueLine
Sherman Phoenix was born in 2016, after violent unrest broke out in the Sherman Park neighborhood following a fatal shooting by police. The desire for safe and inviting neighborhood spaces led to the transformation of the former BMO Harris Bank building into the community space it is today, holding 27 tenants that offer food, wellness services, and arts and cultural activities. The space supports entrepreneurs of color and continually reinvests in the Sherman Park neighborhood to build community wealth.
“Welcome to Cleveland” Roof
Address: 2893 S. Delaware Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Routes: 15, 51 & GreenLine
Now this one is a bit of a stretch. You’ll have to hop on a Route 15 or GreenLine, visit our friends at the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and hop on a plane if you want to see this humorous sign that says “WELCOME TO CLEVELAND” in big block letters on top of this Bay View studio (previously Bay View's old 970-seat Lake (Bay) Theater). Back in 1978, photographer Mark Gubin was bored one day and painted the sign, despite his studio being in Milwaukee. More realistically, you can check out Gubin's photography studio which is (reportedly) full of random objects by taking the Route 15 or 51. Either way, it’s worth the trip.