What Was East Town Like Before I-794?
For years before I-794 was created, Milwaukee’s East Side had no skyscrapers or freeways.
A Winter Afternoon on the Milwaukee River in 1898
The Milwaukee River was once a hot spot for sport and recreation.
John Gurda Has a New In-Depth Guidebook to Milwaukee
‘John Gurda’s Milwaukee,’ which releases Dec. 10, lays out a 25-mile route with historical stories and photographs.
Where Soldiers Came to Rest in 1864 Downtown Milwaukee
A group of local women opened a temporary place of “rest and refreshment” for veterans.
When Allis-Chalmers Was One of the World’s Largest Manufacturers
The West Allis company made everything from steam engines to nuclear reactors.
When Milwaukee Had a Busy Victorian Downtown
When this photograph was taken in about 1888, Milwaukee had nearly 200,000 residents, making it the 16th-largest city in America.
John Gurda’s Battle With Nature in the Driftless Area
A young Milwaukee couple with a pastoral vision carved out a little spot in their ancestral coulee country. Nature had other plans.
Milwaukee’s Downtown Was Bustling at the Turn of the Century
The Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue intersection was even busier than it is today back in 1900.
Marlee Matlin and John Gurda Will Speak at Marquette’s Commencement Ceremonies
Both will receive honorary degrees from the university.
John Gurda Explains the Planting of Milwaukee’s Urban Forest
This photo of Estabrook Park is just one example of the parks system’s Depression-era expansion.