Group Tours

Group tours are available by appointment at the downtown museum and research library or at our historic sites.

MCHS Behind the Scene

This 1-hour tour includes a behind-the-scenes experience of the Historical Society collections. The tour begins with a staff introduction to the Milwaukee County Historical Society, and the tour continues to the archive and collections for a brief explanation of our collection scope and preservation efforts.  Throughout the year, rotating exhibits are also available and included in the cost of a group tour.

During the stop at the Research Library, tour attendees will learn about the county records, photograph collections, manuscript collections, and more held at the MCHS, as well as learn about how to research with these materials in person.

Cost: $13 per Adult, $11 per Senior or Student

Contact: Olivia Hoff, Community Programs Manager
ohoff@milwaukeehistory.net 

Digging Through the Years: Research Library & Archives Tour

The Research Library of the Milwaukee County Historical Society has a wide variety of information about the history of the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County.

Whether you are researching your family history or have an interest in a particular part of our local history, our collections may have the information you are looking for. This 1-hour tour explores the artifacts is preserved in the Milwaukee County Historical Society archives, but also explains how archival research undercovers stories of the past. 

Cost: $13 per Adult, $11 per Senior or Student

Contact: Olivia Hoff, Community Programs Manager
ohoff@milwaukeehistory.net 

From Vaults to Views: Exploring the Architecture of the MCHS

This curator-lead tour explores the architecture and restoration of the Milwaukee County Historical Center. 

Built in 1913, this building originally was the Second Ward Savings Bank, a branch of the First Wisconsin Bank system. Kirchoff and Rose Architecture Firm designed the building in Beaux-Arts style – a combination of classical forms from ancient Rome and Greece with Renaissance and Baroque elements. The bank, which was incorporated in 1866, was nicknamed the “Brewers Bank,” because beer barons Philip Best, Joseph Schlitz and Valentine Blatz were on the bank’s Board of Directors. 

The 1-hour tour includes behind-the-scenes spaces that the general public does not have access to. Limited to 10 people per tour. 

Cost: $13 per Adult, $11 per Senior or Student

Contact: Olivia Hoff, Community Programs Manager
ohoff@milwaukeehistory.net 

Trimborn Farm & Curtin House

Tours last about 45 minute to an hour and explore the many buildings of this historic site including the farm house, Jeremiah Curtin House, barns and lime kilns. While most buildings are handicapped accessible, the ground between buildings can be grass or gravel and uneven.* On-site parking is available. 10 guest minimum. 

For hands-on learning activities for groups of students, please see the information about our field trips.

Cost: $13 per Adult, $11 per Senior or Student
Contact: Mary Jo Knapp, MCHS Educator 
mjknapp@milwaukeehistory.net

Guided Group Tours – Fee based* and by appointment only. Please contact us at least 2 weeks in advance to schedule a tour. 

*Step Up/Bus Tours available by request – please contact for availability and pricing. 

Milwaukee History Kayak Tour

The name “Milwaukee” comes from an Algonquian word Millioke, meaning “Good”, “Beautiful” and “Pleasant Land” (cf. Potawatomi language minwaking, Ojibwe language ominowakiing) or “Gathering place [by the water]” (cf. Potawatomi language manwaking, Ojibwe language omaniwakiing).

Join us at the gathering place by the water! Explore Milwaukee and its history as you paddle down the Milwaukee or Menomonee River. There are two history tours offered this summer: Milwaukee River Downtown & Harbor Tour and Menomonee River & Downtown Milwaukee. Learn about Milwaukee, past and present, from the viewpoint of the river led by guides from the Milwaukee County Historical Society.

Trip includes:

• Use of kayak or canoe
• Instruction
• Milwaukee history interpretation

Children age 12 and older can participate with just one chaperone per 10 students.
Please call for information for trips with children ages 11 and under.

This outing is a collaboration between the Milwaukee County Historical Society and Milwaukee Kayak Company.

For more information about tickets please contact:

Beth @ Milwaukee Kayak Company
(414) 301-2240
info@milwaukeekayak.com

Cost: HALF of each ticket will be donated back to the Milwaukee County Historical Society!
$45 Single Kayak Rental
$85 Tandem Kayak Rental
$75 Family Kayak Rental

History Tours: Offered Seasonally, June – September

Launching from our main location @:
Milwaukee Kayak Company
318 SOUTH Water Street Milwaukee, WI 53204

TOUR #1:

Milwaukee River – Downtown Milwaukee & Inner Harbor Tour