Pabst Mansion

This tour was totally worth the price of admission! It started a bit late because the tour guide was waiting for everyone who had bought tickets to arrive, and then lasted over an hour. Our tour guide was super knowledgeable and did great answering our questions. Sadly, not everything in the house is original but a lot was. Everything was thoughtfully curated to match the time period (early/mid 1890s) and the pictures of what was originally in the house though wallpaper/wall color is not completely restored. This is history worth preserving, and I'm so grateful the group continues their phenomenal work. I enjoyed learning about the early history of Milwaukee. I totally recommend this tour for visitors to the city as well as lifelong residents. There is a modern elevator and, I believe, a small restroom available for use on the first floor. Our group was 22 people, and we didn't have much trouble fitting in the rooms or any problem hearing the tour guide despite a lack of a microphone. Great experience! Also, easy, free street parking by the Milwaukee Rescue Mission.

We took the guided tour for $19.00. They do have military, senior, and student discounts. Don't go to the house check in at the gift shop first. Directly across from the gift shop is a free parking lot. The tour was right around an hour long. We got to tour all three floors of the mansion. They do have an elevator for guests to use. Our docent/ tour guide was great. She answered all of our questions and provided tons of information. When we went the front of the mansion was getting construction. It didn't affect the tour at all. After the tour we went back into the gift shop and bought a Pabst blue Ribbon ice cold beer. It was a great way to end the day. Everyone was super nice, and accommodating. I scheduled my tickets online their website is very easy to use.

Highly recommend visiting this stunning mansion. We took a Sunday morning mimosa tour and our docent Genevieve was excellent. Extremely knowledgeable on not just the mansion and Pabst family but the entire era. The mansion interior is just phenomenal. The woodwork alone is breathtaking. The restoration they’ve taken on is impressive. We will be back when the outside is fully restored and will take the Behind the Scenes tour.

If you are appreciate old world architecture and craftsmanship do not miss The Pabst Mansion. The tour takes about 1.5 hours and the docents are very knowledgeable providing tour goers an in depth view and perspective on life in the 19th century and the family that lived here. The Pabst Family of Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer fame owned this magnificent home. Many modern day amenities such as electricity and central heating were built into the project. It’s been mostly lovingly restored. I highly recommend a visit to get a glimpse into the wealth and lifestyle of the Beer Baron.

This is a beautiful historical home that is being painstakingly restored. As a visitor, I appreciate the attention to historic detail. Our guide was knowledgeable and provided a lot of information about the family itself, not just the house. They have a fascinating background.

Our volunteer tour guide, Carolyn has such a love for this mansion she claims she will live in it one day. With her enthusiasm and the beauty of this mansion we walked away thrilled that we took the tour. So will you! Kudos to Carolyn and all those that help keep the mansion open for us to visit and walk in this living history of Milwaukee and our Country.

We loved the history of the mansion. We did a self guided tour due to time constraints but it was still worth it. They have guides on every floor to answer any questions you might have. I plan to return during Christmas but I am glad I was able to see it alluring a normal time.

Beautiful architecture!! Stunning interior! Woodwork amazing! I can spend hours there wandering around and admiring the beauty of the house and its belongings.

We didn't get to go to the Pabst mansion on our last trip here so we prioritized it this time and I am glad we did! Our tour guide, Kathy, was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The history of the mansion, the town, and Pabst family was so amazing it left us speechless and wanting to learn more. Make sure you take the time to visit, this place is an amazing piece of history.

Really enjoyed this museum more than I thought I would. With the classic guided tour, you get to see a few levels of the house and can bring a purchased beer with you as you learn. Bonus! I understand you can see some extra areas with the specialized tours. At about $20/pp, it's a little steep but it helps knowing that it all goes back to restoring this beautiful mansion. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and funny. Parking was a breeze (and free) across the street which is nice when you're downtown. There are some steps which is clearly posted on their website and they warn beforehand. This still came as a surprise to some others in the group but they also offer an elevator if needed.

We hadn't been to the Pabst in 20+ years - we decided to visit because the house is all decorated for Christmas. I believe normally there is a guided tour but during Christmas it's self guided. That said, there's never a docent far away - they're happy to answer all your questions. I found them incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. The house is of course beautiful and very well preserved. Since it's the holidays, there was A BAR in the foyer serving up PBR and cocktails. That's my kind of museum! Know that they've changed things a bit - you need to check in at the visitor center which is directly next door. They have lockers to store your stuff, souvenirs and lots of MkE history. Also, they'll sell you drinks that you can take up to the mansion in the case that there's not a bar set up. Very Milwaukee in the best ways.

The disrespect towards families must be a thing. As soon as we stepped in for the tour, the lady that led the tour made a very made a comment that was completely unacceptable... then we immediately left and found out the main person called to give her a "heads up". Disgusting behavior

Visiting the historic Pabst mansion during the holidays is always a treat. Each room is decorated by a different artist/company for Christmas, and the decor is different every year. The tours are self guided but docents are available throughout the three floors to answer any questions. They are quite knowledgeable and I learn something new every year. I did not go last year, but something new this year was a bar in the main entrance hall. Drinks were sold, alcoholic and non, along with decorative cookies, travel mugs and possibly a few other items. I did purchase a soda before leaving, but I was surprised to hear that I would have been able to walk around with an open drink. I urge everyone to be VERY careful about this for obvious reasons. The old atrium that used to serve as a gift shop/check in has been removed. I was told they took it apart brick by brick and cataloged everything, just like after the Chicago Worlds fair from which it came. I don't know if they plan to rebuild it on site or elsewhere though. The new gift shop and guest check in is right next door, so it's not much of a walk. Speaking of, if the parking on mansion grounds is full, there's a lot to park in right across the street. Again, just a short walk away. Photos are allowed of course, but NO flash and NO video. Please abide these rules. It can get crowded, and most guests are mindful to avoid getting in the way. But anything more than a quick shot really can disrupt the experience and traffic flow through the rooms. Especially since most rooms only have the one door to get in and out. This year was the first year I was able to see the third floor. In the past it had been unavailable to guests. It was a special experience and I was really intrigued by how different it looked from the other two floors. Please note that tickets can be purchased day of at the guest services next door, but it's recommended to buy them online in advance. I'm not sure if they limit daily traffic.

I have to say if you're into history and craftsmanship take the tour!! We went around Christmas so we got the privilege of seeing the mansion decorated for Christmas ! What a great time! The tour guides are very knowledgeable and friendly. Worth the time to go! What a beautiful house, the woodwork is just amazing!! It was a bit confusing to find it the GPS had us going in circles but once your there it's totally worth it!!

Interesting tour that takes you back to a bygone era. Took almost 90 minutes, so the tour guides are very engaged in their mission and added a lot of context that helped keep you interested. Would recommend if you enjoy historical or house tours.

My husband and I went on PBR brewery tour a couple years ago and have been wanting to see the mansion as well, which we finally did! We made reservations for a Saturday afternoon at $17/person. We just did the regular guided tour, but they also had several specialty tours including a mimosa tour which sounded super enticing! We arrived about 20 minutes before the scheduled time. As a heads up, you have to go to the gift store next to the mansion first and then you walk as a group to the mansion for the tour itself. Our tour guide was very patient and knowledgeable. She guided us through the whole mansion where we were able to explore almost every room. We leaned about the Pabst family, the mansion, and their businesses. The house is beautiful and it was really cool to hear some of the stories that went along with the history of the building. The whole tour lasted a little more than an hour and while I did not feel rushed, I would've loved to spend some more time looking at all the things!

Lovely historic home near Marquette in Milwaukee. We went to the Sunday morning mimosa tour and were very pleased with the tour, our guide, and this amazing home. It is incredible to hear about the history of the home and how it has changed and been restored over the years. Worth a visit to learn about the history of the Pabst family and German heritage in Milwaukee.

Beautiful place to tour. Volunteer working are friendly and helpful as well as informative. Park across the street (no charge), tour starts in the gift shop lol. Opposite of Disney, which always dumps you off in their expensive trinket stores! A little over done for Christmas, I would rather see the architecture than some gaudy decorations. But that's just my opinion. This family has an interesting history in Milwaukee. Do you research and attend the Best tour before you go here, you will know a lot more!

I'm honestly not a big fan Pabst Blue Ribbon(who is?!), but the $16 guided tour of the Pabst Mansion was very interesting. The mansion itself does not look very large from the outside, but once you're inside the place it seems so more spacious! Most of the rooms have been restored to its historical accuracy, with all vintage furniture, decor, paintings, art works, and wallpaper taking you back in time to all its glory. The energetic tour guide shared some fun stories, interesting tidbits, and rich history of the Pabst family and mansion. Fascinating!

Fun and interesting. I won't re-hash the tour for ya....if you are a person who likes local history, historical homes, finding out about the lives of the richie-riches of the turn of the 20th century....you will enjoy booking yourself on a tour of the Pabst Mansion. I had never been, and all those things are right up my alley so we put it on our must-see list for our visit to Milwaukee this summer. We reserved our tickets a day ahead of time, found parking in the small lot to the side of the mansion and headed in to the gift shop (not the mansion, not yet) to check in, watch the intro video, and get the tour run down before walking over to the mansion entrance. Our group was split in to two and the tour guides took us in alternate tour directions (more people per tour time, less crowded rooms). Our guide was the perfect level of informative and cheesy-funny. It wasn't terribly expensive, the tour lasts a little more than an hour, and you learn a little something. A great way to spend some time in Milwaukee.

I loved the tour! You begin the tour on the front porch. I found it all very interesting without being too dry or bogged down with dates etc. the house is stunning and you can just feel its history and excellent architecture. East street parking and a lot across the street. They have a small gift shop as well

This was a very entertaining and informative tour. The house itself is amazing, with the majority of the house looking as it would have looked 100 years ago. Our guide was very knowledgable about the history of the house and did a great job. We enjoyed our visit and recommend that anyone visiting the area take the tour. Parking is also very easy for the early tours with a lot right across the street.

We had a fabulous time on the tour! Ken was incredibly informative and funny. The house was beautiful. So many fun facts about the city and the beer industry/Pabst. Highly recommend this tour for anyone on a trip to MKE! Thanks, Ken!

For $15 per ticket this is a solid choice for the area to learn about the area and the famous Pabst PBR brewing history! You can go in their gift shop and watch an informative video in the are before the actual tour starts. We drove by the entrance which looked like the front of a church not figuring there was any parking. There's a small lot on site then across the street they appear to have reserved spots as well. Or the other option is just using one of the many 2 hr free spots around the corner. The tour guides from the other reviews all seem to be very engaging and entertaining. He welcomed any questions as they arose and we walked around the mansion. I forgot the fellow we had but he appeared to be on summer break at the local university. The mansion itself is gorgeous even though aside from the Best/Pabts family, the Archdiocese had a stint there as well living with much less grandiose. For comparison I was also thinking of the Newport, RI mansions littered all over by those filthy rich Rockerfeller family for their summer cottage. Only the first floor has AC so definitely may be more challenging with fans if it's a particularly hot day. I love how they've tried to restore many areas with funding and also recreate the living spaces during the time to preserve the atmosphere. You start on the first floor to see all of their various entertaining spaces then to the private chambers. Of course the tour then concludes with the help that keep all of the lavish lifestyle running with the servants quarters and area. I thought Captain Pabts' study area was very intriguing with the unique woodworking and puzzle chests/cabinets. Only thing I wish we could have seen was a demo of one or two of them! I understand that with a lot of use that could wear down over time. If you're visiting Milwaukee this is definitely a worthwhile place to visit.

This is the first time I have visited during the holiday season and it was worth it! The 50 Christmas trees throughout the house were beautifully decorated, reflecting the room colors and styles. Speaking with the tour volunteers was helpful to create the story of the entire house and family who lived here. The history it tells is fascinating and worth learning. There is parking on the grounds (in the back) but plenty right across the street also. The ticket area is next door, to the west of the Mansion now that the building annex is no longer there. Knowing that the Pabst Mansion is one of the only remaining beautiful homes from the past it is imperative that we continue to support its future. The tickets are not expensive, and a self-guided tour allows you to take your time and appreciate all the designs and furnishings have to tell us. No matter what time of year you visit, the mansion is beautiful and worth learning about.

What a great tour! Very informative guide beautiful home. So much history and such a generous man.

Didn't expect much when I decided to come here but this mansion is a serious work of art and I commend the people restoring it to its greatness. Every single room is different from the next. The wood work in this mansion is breath taking and the best part is you can drink during the tour. So much cool history but if I tell you any of it, it'll spoil the fun. The street this mansion sits on used to be full of mansion but the Pabst is one of the last, if not the last, mansions on the street. Really neat place and the staff made it even better. They also helped us learn how to pronounce "Oconomowoc" haha. If the Pabst coffee is there when you go, give it a try, it's dangerously delicious! I bought a bag of coffee beans with the mansion on the label and had a lot of self control because there was so much cute, and different, trinkets in the gift shop. This tour made me love Pabst even more. Thank you guys!!

I have driven past this place countless times but I have never stopped for the tour so I finally did. The mansion is beautiful in and out with running water, phone, central heat, battery operated alarm system and a wall safe to name a few features. The tour takes you on all three floors but not the basement or the back building. The tour takes about an hour and you can take pictures but absolutely no videos.

Self-guided tour of the mansion with people on every floor to answer questions. Beautiful Christmas decorations in the home, made this a nice visit. Good way to spend an afternoon.

The tour was great. We learned a lot and the overall knowledge of the staff was great. We got to explore the house and they pointed out very interesting details.

We loved the tour here. The house is huge and so richly appointed/beautiful. The guide was excellent and told us all about the family and Captain Pabst. Really fun and informative way to spend a part of your day in Milwaukee!

My wife is usually not a fan of these house turned into museum tours but she enjoyed this one. We did self guided tour and it was about 40 minutes although they give you an hour.

Went to Pabst Mansion with hubby and family. Had a great time! Our tour guide/docent was great, very knowledgeable and descriptive. Mansion is beautifully kept, intricate, and immaculate. Costs about $17/person which is pretty reasonable. The docent gave us an extensive tour and provided the history regarding the mansion, the people who lived there, the beer company, etc. Great part of Milwaukee's history! They apparently have a bunch of different tours including Christmas tours. Very beautiful! They also have a gift shop which apparently shows a movie which we unfortunately missed. Would definitely recommend stopping by and enjoying the tour!

If you love history, architecture and Xmas as much as I do, this is a must visit! I was blown away by the decor and the choir singing carols added so much to the experience! One of the best places to inject some holiday cheer and magic in your heart in Milwaukee. We are coming back after Christmas for a full guided tour, the story behind the mansion is absolutely fascinating!

I can't believe it's taken me this long to see this place! Had a staycation day recently and we decided to go on a tour of The Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion. Built in 1892, the mansion is absolutely enchanting. For your $14 admission, you are afforded a docent guided tour. Our tour was fascinating and the docent was incredibly knowledgeable. The tour lasts a little over an hour, though we were so charmed, the time flew by. I've heard the mansion gets wonderfully decked out inside for the holidays, so definitely looking forward to making a visit here a part of our holiday traditions. If you have any interest in history, Milwaukee history, architecture, historical interior design, or beautiful spaces--consider the Pabst Mansion a must-see. Get to it!

Thanks Ophelia for the recommendation to come here! Had been on my to-do list for some time. It's amazing to think about people living here back in the day. They had a huge servants quarters! The story on how the mansion was saved from the wrecking ball-actually, being turned into a parking lot-is inspiring. It's been an amazing amount of work put into the restoration of this mansion, and I am so grateful to the visionary people that did that. No walkie has a lot of great architecture. It used to have a lot more, so I appreciate people that saw the need to save this beautiful building.

The tour was something cool to do. There were about 15 of us in our group. Tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history. Tour is about an hour long. The detail in the home was gorgeous.

What a fabulous mansion, I can't believe that someone wanted to demolish it to build a parking space, I'm am glad that it was saved and that we are able to visit/tour it. It has an elevator so those of us who can't got up three flights of stairs we can still enjoy it. The is no wheel chair accessibility onto the first floor that could see. I recommend this place. Our guide was knowledgeable and nice.

Went here for a twilight self guided tour on Saturday. The Christmas theme was still flourishing the mansion! Breathtaking architecture and craftsmanship throughout. Photos just don't explain/reveal just how magnificent this structure is. The history is amazing and the local guides are there for any questions you may have! The house is on the National registry and very well should be! Part of Milwaukee's and Wisconsin's history/heritage. Check schedule/times for tours. Close parking and photos are authorized. Masks required on premises! A must see if your in the area!

Loved the tour the lady was kind and great at interacting with the group. I like the tour so much I plan on coming back in the future. I also spoke to a man who was so open to discuss observations we made and side topics. They are very lucky to have a valuable and helpful employees.

Just starting or trying to start the tour of the mansion, why would you go the mansion to start the tour? After walking around the mansion and testing every locked door, I called the phone number and find out the tour starts at another building down the driveway to the right? The lady at the shop just said to wear a sticker "so they know you are on the tour". As I sat my self down on a chair with no other information, I don't feel welcomed or even interested in the mansion at this point. Balmy 37 degrees trying to find my way around.

What a beautiful place! We've been wanting to come here for quite sometime and I'm so glad we ended up coming during Christmas time. The decorations are amazing, everything is so pretty. The staff is very nice and very willing to answer any questions we had. You can tell they are very knowledgeable and enjoy what they're doing. I can't wait to go back during one of their night tours where they take you to the basement and tell you some of the darker stories! I took 95 pictures while we were there so here's just a few, check it out if you can!

This is an interesting mansion, built in 1890, that we were told was not the most fancy on the main road here that was, at one time, full of mansions. This is on Wisconsin Avenue that used to be called Grand Avenue, it would be neat to go back and see it in, say, 1900. The house/mansion itself is incredibly detailed in ornamentation and neat to imagine people living there. Interesting, to me, is that it didn't seem as big as I imagined, particularly depth-wise from front to back. This supports, I suppose, that it was not the most fancy mansion on the avenue back in the day. The entrance takes you through what was the pavilion exhibit in the famous Chicago Columbian Exposition of 1893 - the White City of the very interesting book "Devil in the White City" by Erik Larsson. This pavilion was apparently added onto the house itself after the exhibition and makes for a neat addition to the house. All in all, this is a neat tour that takes maybe 30-60 minutes and for $15 (in 2022) is reasonably priced.

My cousin and I, both black, purchased tickets online to get a guided tour of the Pabst mansion. As we approached the build we followed the arrows that guided us to the back of the mansion. There was no en so we went back around to the front. At this time, a large group were walking up the driveway. Some had already walked into the front door, so we followed. I noticed that the group had Pabst Mansion stickers so I didn't know if they were finishing a tour or starting a tour. Because of my confusion, I approached the woman who was holding the front door open and welcoming the group in. I asked, "Is this group starting the tour or ending the tour?" This lady, old white lady, stared at me and my long dread locs with complete DISGUSTE!!! I mean, her face was FROZEN. I had to say something else to get her to speak. I was embarassed! But of course I continued with the tour. It took everything in me not to make a sense! But that's why I had to give this review... Overall, was it worth be humiliated? NO.

Very knowledgeable guide and a tall boy to sip on at the happy hour tour. Really cool stop for beer aficionados or history buffs.

The tour is awesome and be sure to get a beer from gift shop before you tour (only beverage allowed in mansion). Our tour guide was a bit snippy, but informative. She made you feel a little stupid for asking questions. The gift shop is not really... very little about mansion and more about Pabst.

The Pabst Mansion tour was slightly underwhelming. It's basically a really old building that has been restored to "Look" like its original state, but during the tour, our tour guide kept saying that the materials used in the restoration were not really from the time period of the original Mansion. Literally every statement was a qualifier that the items were not really that old. Plus, due to fire codes and other rules, you will see items completely out of the ordinary to keep the building "up to code". If you look closely, you see modern locks, electrical outlets, etc. The best part of the tour was the explanation about the various breweries in Milwaukee and the almost "gangster" way they continually bought each other out, merged companies, and competed with each other for the highest share of the market. So, interesting to learn a little history of the beer industry, but the mansions days are numbered and needs to go. Also, somewhat expensive for the tickets. There is also the obligatory "merchandise" store for souvenirs next door.

I love mansions. To be in one is an exclusive treat. This one here is no exception. Barb was our tour guide. All tours are with a guide. She was detailed, funny and perfect for tour. Not much to say but I learned a lot about the Pabst history. I admit I never tried any of their products. Beautiful decor. They are still restoring parts of the mansion. The only one left in the area. A must see.

Knowing that my boyfriend is somewhat of a beer connoisseur, I thought he would enjoy visiting here. We had a tour group of about 12 people. Our tour guide provided much history about the Pabst family, their upbringing, and the brewery ownership changes throughout their history. I was surprised to learn that for quite some time, the mansion was home to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and served as home to several priests. This explained a lot of the religious-themed stained glass in the gift shop, which is also where the tour begins. Throughout the tour, it was explained that a lot of restoration work has been done over the years. Many of the artifacts in the house are not entirely original pieces belonging to the Pabst family, but they are period-appropriate. The tour lasts about an hour and 20 minutes. Nice place to stop and visit!

Wonderful experience! The docents are friendly and knowledgeable. I will be back for the art tour

Excellent, highly informative tour given by David Zeh. Good pace and a fount of fun facts. Able to answer all questions and keep things lively and interesting. Would definitely recommend on a visit to MKE. Gives a great lens into Milwaukee history.

It's kind of odd that everywhere in the world, PBR's are served and sold in places thanks to the man who once occupied this historic house. I've toured in a few historic houses, and this one is indeed one of the most ritziest and has amazingly lasted for so long! 125+ years, to be exact. I wasn't aware that during its prime (in the late 19th, early 20th centuries) that there were many mansions on Wisconsin Avenue that housed Milwaukee's elite. This is the only one that still exists, so it is worth the tour. We went in a lot of the rooms, and the tour guide told a lot of stories about the Pabst family, as well as some of the technologies at the time of the house's occupancy. Frederick Pabst was (and still is) one of Milwaukee's greatest residents, who continuously gave back to the city. He was friends with several beer barons at the time, way before Prohibition. A lot of other cool details can be told by the guide. The house also has a gift shop, with several souvenirs of all kinds - some with even the Pabst Blue Ribbon logo.

This mansion is absolutely gorgeous and looking to do something off the beaten touristy path while in Milwaukee I persuaded my friend to check it out. She had never been so she happily came with me. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable as she lead us through the house passing down stories and antidotes about the family that inhabited the mansion for 13 years. They are slowly bring the mansion back to its original splendor and it amazed me the detail work that has already been done. The restoration is something to behold as well. I only wish there were more stories about the Pabst company but it's a great way to spend an hour learning about one of Milwaukees more prominent families.

I tagged along for a guided tour. The design elements are STUNNING. Very elegant and authentic to the time period. From what I understand, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee took over the Pabst mansion at one point and basically painted everything white. Under its new ownership, much of the ceiling and walls had to be restored and re-created from imagination with the only black and white photos to reference. Much of the furniture however is original and delicately restored. The tour runs about an hour and a half. Our guide was well informed and had a lot of fun facts. There was a child along in the group who was maybe 8-12 years old and he seemed genuinely fascinated by the information and had a lot of fun questions. I'm not sure most kids his age would have engaged as much, but it was a testament to the quality of the tour. All in all, a unique spot to stop that gives some cool perspective on how Milwaukee has evolved... but after the first few rooms I kind of felt like I'd seen the whole place. Would probably do the self-guided tour if I returned. Side note: We visited while they were setting up Christmas decor which added a REALLY homey feeling and set the tone for the beginning of the holidays!

A very impressive restoration of a beautiful mansion (which had taken some unattractive non-vintage changes while previously owned by the archdiocese after the Pabst family left). Fortunately many of the original furnishings have remained or been recovered or donated. The current restoration of the beautiful, classic first floor and some other rooms offer insight into the extravagant life of a Milwaukee beer (PBR), Business, and real estate family.

My first visit to the Pabst Mansion was when it was decorated for Christmas. It was stunning! Every room had been decorated by a different family. So many Christmas trees! It was an unguided tour, but there were a few people on duty to answer any questions and tell you a bit of history about the place. Ever nook and cranny was beautifully decorated. It was a wonderful experience and very informative to hear about the family that once lived there.

Every time I have a friend visit Milwaukee I always put the pabst mansion on the list of places to see. Their historical group did a beautiful job restoring the building and their tour is very interesting, affordable ($13?), and tour guides are friendly. In fact, I've probably been on the tour at least 5 times. Definitely worth stopping by!!