Beautiful museum…read more The beautiful building is free to access from the outside, and inside (just the lobby area, where it is the most beautiful). The museum exhibits are inside the square building with an entrance past the lobby. Any art lover will be wowed by the beautiful exhibition. There are special exhibits at different times throughout the year, and these are great times to visit. The cafe/restaurant downstairs is also beautiful, with a gorgeous view of the lake. Food and coffee is actually quite lovely as well! It's a small, and overlooked part of the experience. The store also has lots of cool stuff, though as a local Milwaukeean, I'm thinking a bit overpriced to get anything personally.

What a treasure Milwaukee has in this art museum! When I moved here 18 months ago, the first thing…read moreI did that made me feel like I was truly home was to buy an annual membership to the museum. It was worth every penny, and it's especially easy to get my moneys worth because the museum is only about a 10 minute drive away from my Bay View home. My latest foray to the museum was to see the Gertrude Abercrombie installation, which I highly recommend. Then again, I can recommend anything going on at the MAM.

Historic Attractions Museum - This place is WORTH THE VISIT!! It is absolutely packed with…read morehistorical facts and other fun things like a Super Heroes room, Elvis display, the Hall of Presidents, Gangsterland, World's Lowest Car, Big Foot 4x4, the time capsule car, Gone With the Wind, Tallest Man/Shortest Man replicas, a 9/11 Memorial room, a Last Supper room, JFK's motorcade, TV Land & Customs... Hitler's car, Stalin's car... TOO MUCH to cover in one visit! This would be a great field trip for homeschoolers, scout groups, schools... if you have a large group and you want to schedule presentations for them, call Tony Farrell, Chief Historian at 608-751-2065 or email him: tonyfarrellsr@gmail.com.

There is truly something for everyone here! Came on a Wednesday which is apparently discount day so…read moretickets were $20. This is an incredibly accessible experience. Mobility scooters available to borrow at the entrance, and also more in the back for those who might change their mind. Benches are located throughout. Maps are available at the front, and in several places throughout. Even though it's a huge building, it is really well organized and easy to navigate through. It's very close to the highway and worth the hour or so stop if you want to see something quirky and different!

It is always a great time at the Milwaukee Public Museum!! We visit a couple times a year and there…read moreis always something new. Some of my favorites are the butterfly display, the Native American section and the Streets of Old Milwaukee. We were able to get a guided tour of the Streets of Old Milwaukee. We had a knowledgeable guide who pointed out many historic tidbits which added to our experience. There is also a nice cafeteria and souvenir shop on the main floor. I can't wait for the new museum to open next year and see the displays.

Look, if you don't understand the magic of the Milwaukee Public Museum I can't help you. This place…read moreis nostalgia overload with immersive displays, incredible dioramas (which, BTW, have an entire style named after them called "Milwaukee-style") and three floors of fun to explore. Hot tip: Start from top to bottom to avoid getting burnt out on the larger exhibits on the first floor.

I am obsessed with Ten Chimneys!!…read more The backstory is fascinating. This wonderful, glamorous Broadway couple found their way to the sweet little mid-west town of Genesee Depot is intriguing on it's own. Their summer home is lovely. I can feel the parties and good times that surely took place in years gone by. Everything has been lovingly preserved by those in charge and offer a wonderful glimpse into this adored couple's lives. The grounds are the perfect backdrop to the home. The entire estate gives off a quiet and relaxing vibe. It makes me understand why, on their time off, they would long to come home to Ten Chimneys. There were 2 tour times offered. Everyone takes a small bus from the starting point. A talented docent brings you on a detailed journey back in time and into the private world of Alfred Lunt and his wife Lynn Fontanne. Of course, there is a gift shop to visit after your tour. Be sure to check out the customer restrooms. The ladies room is glamorous with ladies finery and there is a huge King's throne in the mens room! Don't miss the walking tails if you want to take in a bit more nature!

As a classic film and theater nerd, Ten Chimneys holds a special place in my heart. The former home…read moreof Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, the home and grounds are impeccable and just they was as they Lunts left them. Thanks to some love from investors, their stories are preserved and memorialized through the maintenance of Ten Chimneys and the many individuals from all over the world who come to this tiny Wisconsin town to remember them and Hollywood's days gone by. Cross the same threshold that the likes of Vivien Leigh, Helen Hayes, Lawrence Olivier, Katharine Hepburn, Noel Coward, Alexander Woolcott, and so many others crossed, as you become part of the storied list of visitors. Tours must be arranged in advance.

We came here on a Sunday with my kids (5 and 3). It being March, the outside was open so we were…read moreglad to explore outside for a bit but it closed at 4 pm. I felt this time that the place was kept tidier. I saw employees moving from area to area and trying to keep things in place, which seems like a pretty tough task with the amount of stuff in each area. My kids had a lot of fun in the upstairs area. There's lots to do & for $12 each, it can easily keep young kids entertained.

I cannot recommend this place highly enough!! Absolutely killer on every level!! This is fun for…read moreadults to come to too! Obviously you need to be an inquisitive person and still enjoy learning new things.... But if you have some kids to bring it's literally like Disneyland but where they learn how everything works in the universe...... You really need to come here multiple times to take everything in..... If you care about your kids, and want them to be smart, this place is mandatory!

Fun, cute, history of Geneva! Daughter and I spent a rainy day there! Neat to be brought back in…read moretime and see how the town developed! Would definitely recommend for a family outing!! Also birthplace of D&D!!

My fiance and I visited this today for the first time. David, was extremely kind and informative…read more We had no idea dungeons and dragons started in this town. Such a great museum, great staff, and enjoyable visit. Make sure you check this place out, you will not regret it!

What a nifty way to spend an afternoon. Provided that you're a vaguely cerebral (fair to say,…read more"nerdy") older sort, especially if you're a fella (I wouldn't recommend the place for most kids - especially not a gaggle of tween girls). All manner of The Work of Man memorialized in sculpture and painting, with a particularly nice Carl Spitzweg side gallery (worth a visit if you ever admired Norman Rockwell's "The Bookworm" - the original of which is also there, right outside the Spitzweg room - because you'll find its inspiration). Oh, and it's five bucks (I didn't even ask about the Senior Rate). And be careful not to trip over the students sunbathing on the grass in bikinis when looking at the magnificent sculptures in the rooftop garden.

Been living in the neighborhood almost a year and never gave thia place a secons thought. Realizing…read moreit was right next door to one of my favorite coffeeshops (Discourse) and that it was only $5, I gave it a shot. This is one of the best kept secrets in Milwaukee, honestly. The artwork on display is incredible, with some genuinely masterful pieces, as well as more modern interpretations. Mostly paintings with some sculptures, iron work, and videos. They even have a rooftop which offers incredible views of the skyline and features several large sculptures, just bw aware that it's closed for winter. I took an hour and a half to get through it, and that's just taking a peak at the rooftop. I would say you could spend upwards of 2 hours here with little difficulty.

Excellent place to visit with or without kids. I really enjoyed traveling through the entire…read moremuseum. Downstairs they have a temporary exhibit highlighting fossils they are finding in the Green River Shale in Utah. From the large bones to the tiny buds of plants. The dinosaur exhibit on the first floor will particularly appeal to kids and vertebrate fossil fans. While I was drawn to the very nice collection of Mazon Creek concretions and my first in person view of a Tully Monster (which is the Illinois State Fossil). 2nd floor is more geology focused than paleontology and the 3rd floor is Biological. I spent some time looking at the different birds they had on display as well as the live reptiles in the education room. Plus a little fox at floor level where young children could Ben down and look eye to eye was a nice touch. We will definitely return. Rockford is close.

We came on a "Donation Day." However, this is for Illinois residents only. Otherwise, it's $10 for…read morechildren 4-12 and $12 13 and up. This museum is too small for that cost. We were in and out within the hour. Veteran/educator discounts ONLY if you buy a membership. Half the 3rd floor was temporarily closed. I think you may have more visitors for what little you have if your pricing for kids was more reasonable. Or if you opened donation day to those outside Illinois. Especially for a museum one is in and out within an hour. Maybe you should offer a pass, tying in with the Children's museum and perhaps the Art museum since they are all located nearby. Such a great opportunity to introduce young children to Natural History and Art if one was offered. Otherwise, $32 for the 3 of us will not have us return anytime soon.

First to review? How is that possible?…read more While I had some time on my own in Wisconsin, I decided to check out the Hoard Historical Museum (and National Dairy Shrine Museum). And even though I stopped by more than a few breweries in the four days I was there this stop was by far one of my favorites. First, the National Dairy Shrine Museum. I have a whole new respect for the dairy farmers after realizing how much I take for granted. For example, I never gave much thought to the fact that there are different breeds of cows. Or how much time, energy, money and science goes into their breeding. The National Dairy Shrine Museum displays not only these majestic creatures but the trophies and prizes that can be won through the dedication to the progression of the dairy farm. Upstairs there is a room of dioramas showing the history of the dairy farm and a detailed timeline along the walls. Downstairs there is a hall of fame where I learned about some of the pioneers in the field, pictures of champion cows and early equipment used in dairy farming. The Hoard Historical Museum features some great local history. There is the Lincoln room where I learned a bit about the Black Hawk War and how the Civil War affected Wisconsin. I was fascinated by the exhibit about the mounds left by early Native Americans and the efforts to preserve them. Part of the Hoard House is open as well. Very little is off limits here. You can sit in the parlor or the library and learn about the Hoard family (leaders in the field of dairy farming). Upstairs and through the kitchen I came upon a room full of taxidermy birds. Another room displayed dolls and figurines. One special room was dedicated to local poet Lorine Niedecker. Don't let this place fool you, there's more here than you might expect. I spent over two hours here and still felt rushed. The friendly and hands-on experience is always fun making this a good place for families and kids. I was greeted by Sandy and made a point of telling her how much I enjoyed the place. She was happy to hear it. I noticed several signs hanging up around the entrance for special gatherings and events held here. I also liked that many of the exhibits led to interest in other local historic places and parks. The Hoard Historical Museum seems to have a mutually beneficial relationship with the local community. Did I mention this place is free? Donations are of course accepted.

Great little museum in a great little town. They have a civil war era wing, part of the original…read moreHoard house, a dairy section, art work, a section devoted to indigenous people of the area and the mounds nearby, some wildlife stuff, just a really cool museum full of friendly people.