Milwaukee Public Museum - Streets of Old Milwaukee & Thanksgiving Heritage Discovery

About this adventure

Step back in time over Thanksgiving weekend at the Milwaukee Public Museum, where the world-renowned Streets of Old Milwaukee exhibit transports families to nineteenth-century Milwaukee dressed in holiday finery. Cobblestone walkways, gas lamps, horse-drawn carriages, and historic storefronts—including an authentic old-time candy apothecary and grandmother's parlor—feature seasonal decorations and historical vignettes. Young explorers can pick up family scavenger hunt guides to discover prehistoric dinosaur skeletons, walk through a living butterfly garden, and explore interactive global village dioramas spanning three expansive floors. Family Experience & Accessibility: • Stroller Accessibility: Fully accessible with spacious elevator access to all exhibit floors; wide boardwalks and ramps accommodate strollers throughout the vintage streetscapes. • Nursing & Rest Spots: Dedicated private nursing room located on the ground level, accompanied by family restrooms with changing tables on every floor. • Age Suitability: Perfect for children ages 2 to 14, teens, and multi-generational family holiday outings. • Sensory Tips: Atmospheric gas-lamp lighting and intermittent historic soundscapes in the Streets of Old Milwaukee; brighter, spacious rest areas located near the museum commons.