Milwaukee Public Museum
On downtown's west side, it's excellent for children and adults alike, containing exhibits on numerous topics including large historical dioramas, an IMAX theater, and the largest planetarium in the state. Well-known permanent exhibits include a "Butterflies Alive" garden and the Streets of Old Milwaukee which feature the world's oldest continually functioning gas streetlight system.
Oriental Theatre
A very beautiful theatre on the East Side that maintains a lot of character unlike modern cinemas. The amazing artwork and decoration within the theatre will take your breath away once you see this gem. Most of the films shown here cater to the independent/arthouse/foreign crowd a reflection of the neighborhood the theatre is located in, however, they do bring in a few of the Hollywood hits. They also show Rocky Horror Picture Show the second Saturday of every month at midnight.
Harley-Davidson Museum
Walk through a variety of exhibits that tell the stories of the extraordinary people, products, history and culture of Harley-Davidson. In addition to the fantastic motorcycle collection, stories are told through a variety of media - including photographs, videos, apparel, rare documents and other fascinating artifacts. Peek into a portion of the Archives, never before open to the public, and home base to more than 450 motorcycles, and hundreds of thousands of artifacts that the Archives team can pull from for Museum exhibits.
Pabst Mansion
In 1892, the Flemish Renaissance Revival Mansion of Captain Frederick Pabst, world famous beer baron, accomplished sea captain, real estate developer, philanthropist and patron of the arts, was completed. From the day the house was inhabited, it was considered the jewel of Milwaukee's famous avenue of mansions called Grand Avenue and represented the epitome of America's Gilded Age Splendor in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee County Zoo
One of the best zoos in the US. Features 2500 animals representing 300 species on 200 acres 81 ha. Besides animal showcases, the zoo also features train tours, sea lion shows, and a dairy farm. Check with zoo schedules for fun special events like sleepovers at the zoo or trick-or-treating at the zoo on Halloween.
Milwaukee Art Museum
Santiago Calatrava-designed addition is another of Milwaukee's most recognizable landmark, and the bird-like wings of the building's Quadracci Pavilion open and close several times each day, depending on the weather. The War Memorial which the museum is connected to was designed by the architect Eero Saarinen.
Betty Brinn Children's Museum
Large children's museum connected to the MAM via a pedestrian bridge.
Eisner American Museum of Advertising and Design
Has closed
Hoan Bridge
The Hoan Bridge is one of the most recognizable Milwaukee landmarks. It is a tied arch bridge suspended over the port of Milwaukee on the Milwaukee River. It's part of I-794 that leads into downtown.
Allen-Bradley Clocktower
Underneath it sits the home of Rockwell Automation. It is instantly recognizable from I-43 between downtown and the south side of Milwaukee. It is the largest four-sided clock in the world, with clock-faces nearly twice as large as those of London's Big Ben.
St. Josaphat Basilica
On the city's south side, it was built by the city's Polish community from the dismantled materials of the Old Chicago Customs House and Post Office. Each block was carefully measured and numbered for a best fit in the new design so that hardly any stone was re-cut or went to waste. In the end, even the original ornamental bronze railings, lighting fixtures, and doorknobs of the customs house were used for furnishings. Opulently decorated and designed, it is perhaps one of the finest examples of the so called "Polish Cathedral" style of church architecture in North America.
Discovery World Museum at Pier Wisconsin
Features in depth interactive exibits about the Great Lakes and local natural science.
City Hall
Was the possibly city's most important landmark before the completion of the Calatrava addition to the museum. The architecture is heavily German influenced, and is a symbol of Milwaukee's large German immigrant population at the turn of the century.
Charles Allis Art Museum
1801 N Prospect and Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum 2220 N Terrace (http://www.cavtmuseums.org/) are located in re-purposed, East Side mansions. They are great stops as you explore the East Side neighborhood.
The Domes
One of the city's most recognizable landmarks. The three huge glass domes serve as the city's horticultural gardens, and house a desert habitat, rainforest, and varying themed exhibits.
Pabst Brewery Complex
The former brewery sits on the north east side of downtown, adjacent to the Milwaukee County Courthouse and overlooking I-43. It contains many wonderful "old world" style buildings. Though the brewery is no longer in operation it still remains an icon of the city. It is currently under renovation and is being re-developed for condos, offices, and restaurants.
US Bank Center
Built in 1973, is the tallest building in the state at 42 stories. Bud Selig, the commissioner of Major League Baseball and former owner of the Brewers has an office inside.