A WARM RECEPTION AWAITS YOU

A richly woven fabric of culturally diverse communities makes the lovely lakefront city of Milwaukee what it is today: lively, progressive, and welcoming.. and the word is definitely getting out:

"Milwaukee is surprisingly queer-friendly. It's the biggest city in the first state in the country (1982) to pass a gay rights law. In October 2001, Girlfriends Magazine rated Milwaukee the best place in the country to live if you're a lesbian..."
Passport Magazine, June 2003

OUT AND ABOUT

In the mood for a concert? A play? The ballet? If you're craving a little culture, Milwaukee won't disappoint. The city is home to the Milwaukee Ballet, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and a thriving theater and cultural arts scene. Or perhaps you'd like to visit the Milwaukee Public Museum... then take a stroll along Milwaukee's Riverwalk... then have a bite at some fabulous little café... then play a round of golf at one of the area's 16 county courses... then try your luck at Potawatomi Bingo Casino... then sample the suds at some of the city's microbreweries... then take in a sporting event... and then back to your hotel for a well-deserved nap.

IT'S COOLER BY THE LAKE

So now that you know you're going to feel right at home here, what would you like to do? For many, Milwaukee's spectacular Lake Michigan shoreline is the place to start. There are miles and miles of beaches, parks and bike trails. And come summer, the lakefront hosts many of Milwaukee's ethnic, arts and music festivals. It's also home to the Milwaukee Art Museum's magnificent new expansion by world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, named "Best Design of 2001" by Time magazine and named "new American Beauty" by People magazine in 2003. Yes, it's definitely cooler by the lake in Milwaukee... and we're not just talking about the weather.

BIG-CITY EXCITEMENT... SMALL-TOWN WARMTH

For all that Milwaukee has to offer, there's still one thing you won't find here: the hassle of a big city. In other words, Milwaukee's remarkably manageable. You'll find that getting around Milwaukee is easy - by car, taxi, mass transit, and even, if you're athletically inclined, on foot. One more thing: If you're looking for big-city attitude better look elsewhere. We're happy just the way we are. But if you appreciate genuine hospitality, we know you'll be happy here, too.

CONSIDER THIS AN INVITATION

World-class performing and visual arts, an exciting cultural climate and a wide variety of ethnic traditions await you here in Milwaukee... along with the good humor, friendliness and great spirit of our people. We're looking forward to meeting you.

Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and 22nd largest (by population) in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. As of a revised 2006 U.S. Census estimate, Milwaukee had a population of 602,782. The coastal city is the main cultural and economic center of the Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha Metropolitan Area with a population of 1,773,519.

The first Europeans to pass through the area were French missionaries and fur traders. In 1818, the French-Canadian explorer Solomon Juneau settled in the area, and in 1846 Juneau's town combined with two neighboring towns to incorporate as the City of Milwaukee. Large numbers of German and other immigrants helped increase the city's population during the 1840s and the following decades.

Once known almost exclusively as a brewing and manufacturing powerhouse, Milwaukee has taken steps in recent years to reshape its image. In the past decade, major new additions to the city have included the Milwaukee Riverwalk, the Midwest Airlines Center, Miller Park, an internationally renowned addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum, and Pier Wisconsin, as well as major renovations to the Milwaukee Auditorium and Milwaukee Theatre. In addition, many new skyscrapers, condos, lofts, and apartments have been constructed in neighborhoods on and near the lakefront and riverbanks.