THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Explore a 1923 Tudor mansion above Lake Michigan and discover a restored Schlitz-style speakeasy during an intimate, self-guided evening tour. Perfect for architecture lovers, sunset photographers, and anyone curious about Milwaukee’s brewing past.
Explore a 1923 Tudor mansion above Lake Michigan and discover a restored Schlitz-style speakeasy during an intimate, self-guided evening tour. Perfect for architecture lovers, sunset photographers, and anyone curious about Milwaukee’s brewing past.
Book with Historic Milwaukee, Inc.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Historic Milwaukee, Inc. · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Perched on a bluff above Lake Michigan, the former UWM Alumni House at 3230 E Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, offers an after-hours way to read a city’s history in stone, timber, and leaded glass. Built in 1923 for Myron T. and Gertrude MacLaren, this 25,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion reads like a compendium of Midwest craftsmanship: rough-hewn limestone foundations, steeply pitched gables, patterned brickwork, carved oak paneling, and expansive windows that frame sweeping lake views.
Visitors check in at Sereniteā Lounge, 2569 N Downer Ave, then move at their own pace through the house’s richly detailed ground floor. The self-guided evening tour highlights key spaces—an imposing great hall, period dining rooms, private studies, and a conservatory—each room threaded with architectural details that reveal the building’s era and the prosperity of Milwaukee in the 1920s. The house occupies a bluff-top site whose geology accentuates the views: the lake-facing elevation and mature beech and oak plantings give the rooms a dramatic natural backdrop uncommon for urban historic houses.
The evening’s signature reveal is a hidden Schlitz-style speakeasy tucked into the mansion’s lower levels. Restored to evoke a mid-century private lounge, it’s an immersive nod to Milwaukee’s brewing history and the clandestine social life of Prohibition-era America. For visitors who love architecture, social history, or harbor-side scenery, the speakeasy is a joyful discovery that ties personal stories to the city’s industrial past.
This experience stands out in Milwaukee’s outdoor recreation mix because it pairs cultural immersion with the shoreline environment. After the tour you can step outside to nearby Lake Michigan promenades, join sections of the Oak Leaf Trail, or wander historic Kenwood and Downer avenues to extend an outdoor evening. The house’s elevated position makes it a quiet vantage point for sunset photographers who want architectural detail against the lake.
Practical details: the program runs about two hours and is self-paced; wear sensible shoes for uneven interior floors and bring a light layer - the bluff breezes off Lake Michigan can be cool even in summer. Allow time to pause in each room; the tour is compact but dense with detail. Meeting point information is Sereniteā Lounge, 2569 N Downer Ave, and the property sits at 3230 E Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53211. Whether you’re drawn to masonry and millwork or to a secret bar that tells a city’s story, this former UWM Alumni House delivers an intimate, memorable evening. Book early for limited-capacity evenings and check operator notes for accessibility, group policies, and any on-site restrictions. Combine the visit with a lakeshore walk or an evening at a nearby Brew City tasting room to round out a historic Milwaukee night that balances architecture, local brewing heritage, and fresh lake air for an authentic neighborhood experience.
Check in at Sereniteā Lounge, 2569 N Downer Ave; staff will provide orientation details before you begin the self-guided visit.
The program runs about two hours and is self-paced, but allow extra time if you want to linger in rooms or visit the speakeasy.
Yes, non-flash photography for personal use is generally allowed; avoid using tripods in tight rooms and always respect signage.
The listing does not include refreshments; the Schlitz-style speakeasy is a themed space—check operator notes for any beverage options or restrictions.
Accessibility details vary; contact the operator in advance to confirm accommodations, as some historic floors and doorways are narrow or uneven.
Age restrictions are not specified; consider the evening timing and historical materials—contact the operator if you plan to bring young children.
Historic Milwaukee, Inc. preserves and interprets Milwaukee’s built environment through curated public programs and guided tours. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Historic Milwaukee, Inc. presents walking tours, multi-session neighborhood series, one-way Riverwalk tours, river cruises and specialty sessions that focus on architecture, neighborhood history, cultural heritage and public art. Tours begin at recognizable local points such as the Historic Milwaukee Store and explore diverse neighborhoods including North Point, Newberry Boulevard, Brady Street, Walker’s Point, the Historic Third Ward and downtown corridors. Many programs highlight specific themes: stained glass at Yankee Hill churches, German heritage on Old World Third Street, industrial heritage in Walker’s Point and theatrical and architectural history along N. Water Street and N. Broadway. Programming includes short lunchtime learning events, multi-Saturday series, half-mile neighborhood strolls and guided cruises. Presentations and tours are led by named guides and local historians — for example, Dr. Judy Wimmer and Cyndi Kramer — and emphasize documented research, architectural observation and neighborhood storytelling. Historic Milwaukee, Inc. is a community-based organization focused on accessible public history programming. Events are factual, research-driven and designed for residents, visitors and students who want clear historical context and engaging on-the-ground interpretation.
Book with Historic Milwaukee, Inc.