Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee (must see)

The Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) stands as Wisconsin’s largest art museum and a landmark of artistic innovation on the shores of Lake Michigan. With more than 34,000 works and 150,000 square feet of gallery space, it ranks among the largest art museums in the United States.

The museum's origins trace back to 1888 when the Layton Art Gallery and the Milwaukee Art Institute were founded. These institutions merged in 1957, becoming the Milwaukee Arts Center and later adopting the Milwaukee Art Museum name in 1980. The museum's physical evolution has been equally impressive, beginning with the Milwaukee County War Memorial, designed by famed architect Eero Saarinen. Major additions followed: the Kahler Building in 1975, the iconic Quadracci Pavilion by Santiago Calatrava in 2001-famous for its wing-like movable brise-soleil-and the East End addition in 2015.

MAM’s collection spans a vast range of styles and periods, including 15th- to 20th-century European art, American art from the 17th century onward, and diverse holdings in decorative arts, photography, prints, drawings, folk, and self-taught art. Highlights include works by Monet, Picasso, Rodin, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Kandinsky, and Warhol, alongside pieces by German Expressionists and a substantial collection of works by Wisconsin native Georgia O’Keeffe.

Visitors can also explore masterpieces by Botticini, van Goyen, Bouguereau, and Caillebotte, among others. In 2024, USA Today readers and editors ranked the museum 8th best in the country, reflecting its national prominence.

Beyond its galleries, the museum features Café Calatrava and a well-stocked gift shop, making it not only a cultural powerhouse but also a popular gathering spot. With its stunning architecture and rich collections, the Milwaukee Art Museum offers an immersive experience that bridges classical tradition and contemporary vision.