Visual Art
A Time Capsule of Milwaukee
Art Museum's “Portrait of Milwaukee” offers vignettes of the city’s history over an 80-year period.
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Art Museum's “Portrait of Milwaukee” offers vignettes of the city’s history over an 80-year period. Back to the full article.
Photos - Page 2
![Lyle Oberwise, [“Girl in the Moon” baton twirler], 1954, printed 1996. Chromogenic print. Purchase, Exhibition Fund, M1996.311](https://urbanmilwaukee.com/wp-content/gallery/milwaukee-art-museum/thumbs/thumbs_portraitofmilwaukee_press_r_m1996_311.jpg "Lyle Oberwise, [“Girl in the Moon” baton twirler], 1954, printed 1996. Chromogenic print. Purchase, Exhibition Fund, M1996.311")
If the streets in Milwaukee seem more vibrant in some of these photographs, it’s because Milwaukee was once much more lively. In 1920, Milwaukee was the 13th most populous city in the U.S., and its population density was second only to New York City. Milwaukee’s population density in 1920 was nearly three times its current population density. Image three people for every person you see on the street today – quite a difference. This goes a long way to explaining the popularity of places like the Tripoli Shrine masonic temple and the Eagles Club, which today seem slightly out of place. (Source: https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027/tab15.txt)