Milwaukee Public Market and Historic Milwaukee Partner on Exclusive Walking Tour

MILWAUKEE (Feb. 24, 2025) – The Milwaukee Public Market and Historic Milwaukee are excited to announce a new partnership to offer an exclusive walking tour in celebration of the Milwaukee Public Market’s 20-year anniversary. Each tour will explore the Milwaukee Public Market’s evolution, from past and present vendors to the beloved antiques on display. Attendees will also learn about the Historic Third Ward’s transformation from a hub of wholesale grocery businesses and commission houses to the vibrant community it is today.

The tours will be offered once a month through the end of 2025, with the first tour taking place on March 16, 2025. Tickets are $12 for Historic Milwaukee members and $16 for the general public. For specific dates and to book tickets, visit the Historic Milwaukee website. $1 from each ticket sold will benefit Hunger Task Force, Milwaukee’s only free and local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader.

“After 20 years, the Milwaukee Public Market has become a well-known destination that locals and visitors alike recognize and enjoy. This tour will offer an opportunity to go beyond what’s familiar and provide a deeper dive into the Market’s story—its vendors, its evolution, and its role in shaping the Third Ward’s story,” said Paul Schwartz, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Public Market and Business Improvement District #2. “Partnering with such respected organizations like Historic Milwaukee and Hunger Task Force makes this initiative even more meaningful, combining history, community engagement, and support for an important cause.”

Historic Milwaukee, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing awareness of and commitment to Milwaukee’s architecture, history and built environment, sees this collaboration as a natural fit.

“The tour builds on our existing and popular Historic Third Ward walking tour but with a deeper dive into just the Market. Our goal with the tour is to share more about the historic wholesale grocery businesses and commission houses that populated the area as well as the long history of the site where the Market sits,” said Julia Griffith, Program Director for Historic Milwaukee. “By drawing parallels between the commerce of today and the past, we hope to ground people’s experience at the market in a broader and deeper history. The tie-in with Hunger Task Force is also a reminder that some in our community still struggle with hunger and food insecurity.”

The partnership with Historic Milwaukee marks the first of many special events and community collaborations that will take place at the Milwaukee Public Market in celebration of their 20-year anniversary. To stay up to date on all anniversary happenings, follow the Market on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X, and sign up for their email newsletter.

About Milwaukee Public Market: Since opening their doors in 2005, the Milwaukee Public Market has emerged as Milwaukee’s iconic food and event destination, recently earning recognition as the #1 Best Public Market in the country. Home to 19 independently owned vendors, and a hub for public and private community events and cooking classes, the market celebrates the best of local Milwaukee flavors and traditions.

For additional information about the Milwaukee Public Market, please visit MilwaukeePublicMarket.org, follow @milwaukeepublicmarket on Facebook and Instagram, or call 414-336-1111.

About Historic Milwaukee: Founded in 1974, Historic Milwaukee, Inc. (HMI) is dedicated to increasing awareness of and commitment to Milwaukee’s architecture, history, and the built environment. Educational programs include docent-led walking tours of Downtown and Milwaukee neighborhoods and annual programs like Spaces & Traces and Doors Open Milwaukee.

For additional information about Historic Milwaukee, please visit historicmilwaukee.org, follow @historicmilwaukee on Facebook or Instagram or call 414-277-7795.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.