antique milwaukee

These items were keepsakes from a 1950 trip to Milwaukee aboard the luxurious SS Milwaukee Clipper carferry.

February 8, 2018History

The Story Behind These Milwaukee Clipper Scrapbook Pages

The SS Milwaukee Clipper was once the premiere way to cruise Lake Michigan.

These keys welcomed hundreds of travelers to Milwaukee’s downtown Plankinton House hotel over the years. (Private Collection)

February 1, 2018History

The Story Behind These Plankinton House Room Keys

There were two different Plankinton House hotels in downtown Milwaukee. The first was torn down to make way for a landmark building that still stands. The other was razed to make way for a mall parking structure.

With a promise to halt the aging process, Milwaukee’s own Palmolive Soap became one of the most popular beauty products of the 1920s. (Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear)

January 25, 2018History

The Story Behind This Bar of Palmolive Soap

Palmolive is one of the most recognized soap brands in the world. The distinctive green bar that launched the brand was born right here in Milwaukee.

These industrial molds were used to impress the Ambrosia name into their bulk chocolate products. (Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear)

January 18, 2018History

The Story Behind This Ambrosia Chocolate Mold

Ambrosia Chocolate once gave downtown Milwaukee a sweet smell and has long been a nationally-known brand.

This postcard boasted young Sherburn Becker as the “Mayor of Milwaukee,” even though it was postmarked before his actual inauguration. (Private Collection)

January 11, 2018History

The Story Behind This Postcard of Milwaukee’s ‘Boy Mayor’

Sherburn Becker was rich, young, and brash. And for two years, he was one of the flashiest mayors in the nation.

This Schlitz sign, from 1925, makes no mention of the product that made the company famous. (Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear)

January 4, 2018History

The Story Behind This Non-Alcoholic Schlitz Brewing Sign

During Prohibition, Milwaukee’s beer brewers were forced to adapt – both in the products they sold and they way they marketed their brands.

These odd double-locking doorknobs were once used to secure a document room at Northwestern Mutual’s Broadway headquarters in downtown Milwaukee. (Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear)

December 28, 2017History

The Story Behind These Northwestern Mutual Doorknobs

Northwestern Mutual has built several landmark structures in Milwaukee during its long history.

Hoffco Shoe Polish is still made in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. The company’s white polish remains its most famous product. (Private Collection)

December 21, 2017History

The Story Behind This Can of Hoffco Shoe Polish

Harri and Herta Hoffman escaped the Nazis in Germany, and made a name for themselves in Milwaukee in both business and philanthropy.

When he retired in 1988, Mayor Henry Maier was honored by the Greater Milwaukee Committee with a dinner at the Pfister Hotel. This piece of the City Hall complex was given to guests as a keepsake

December 14, 2017History

The Story Behind This Henry Maier Paperweight

Henry Maier was one of Milwaukee’s most influential and controversial mayors, leaving an imprint on the city that, for better or worse, is still visible today.

Brewers fans were thrilled to have Hank Aaron back at County Stadium in 1975. Player-specific bobblehead dolls were still a novelty then, making this Aaron doll an iconic piece of Brewers memorabilia.

December 7, 2017History

The Story Behind This Hank Aaron Bobblehead Doll

Hammerin’ Hank Aaron returned to Milwaukee in 1974 as a member of the Brewers, giving local fans a second chance to celebrate one of the game’s greatest players.