Hours
Monday, Wednesday-Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday & Sunday: Closed
At this time, visitors to the Research Library must make an appointment. For more information, visit our appointment page or call 414.273.7487.
Note: May-December we often close at 2pm for private events on Saturdays. Please call ahead or visit our social media pages to see closure notices.
CLOSING EARLY:
Saturday, September 5th, 2026
Saturday, September 19th, 2026
Saturday, September 26th, 2026
Friday, October 2nd, 2026
Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
Friday, October 9th, 2026
Saturday, October 10th, 2026
Friday, October 16th, 2026
Friday, October 23rd, 2026
Fees
Daily Visitor: $8.00
Senior (62 and over): $6.00
Military: $6.00
Children (13 – 18) & Full-Time Students: $6.00
Children (12 & under): Free
Members: Free
Parking
The Milwaukee County Historical Society is partnering with Power Parking to provide discounted visitor parking. For $10 you may park in the 847 N. Plankinton Ave. Lot (at the corner of Plankinton Ave. and Kilbourn Ave.) for up to 5 hours. 20% of the revenue will be donated directly back to MCHS.
For discounted parking, DO NOT scan and pay at the lot. After parking your car, instructions for payment will be available at the front desk in the Historical Center.
If Power Parking is full, there are several convenient alternatives nearby. The Journal South Lot, located at 921 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, is a secured parking lot directly across the street. Metered street parking is also available on W. Kilbourn Avenue and N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Street parking is free after 6pm and on the weekends.
Accessibility
Elevators are available to access the second floor. Handicapped accessible doors are located on the east side of the building. Additionally, a vehicle drop-off /loading zone is accessible on W. Kilbourn Avenue.
MCHS proud to partner with Museums for All. Through this program, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) gain free admission for up to four people per family by simply presenting their photo ID and EBT card at the front desk.
For specific accessibility questions, please contact us.
Closings
The Historical Center, Research Library and Historic Sites are closed every year on the following days: MKE St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Years Day.
Photography
Historic Center: All exterior photography for weddings, class pictures, family photos, etc. requires a photography agreement through the Milwaukee County Historical Society.
Trimborn Farm: To guarantee access to the site, take photographs within any of the buildings, and/or use any images of the site for commercial purposes (i.e. commercials, magazines, sale of site images, etc) requires a photography agreement
Permits are required year round. Please file permits no less than two weeks before your photo session date.
All photographers, must be respectful of both sites’ historic nature and follow the on-site staff’s instructions at all times. Failure to comply will result in banning the photographer from the site in the future.