We'll start the Westown tour on the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge overlooking the Milwaukee River. The north-south river bisects Milwaukee's downtown into Westown and East Town, and we'll be walking west from this point. (For information on East Town, see our East Town tour.)

Before moving on, you'll notice the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge connecting East Town and Westown is built on an angle. In the early days pre-dating the formation of Milwaukee in 1846, there were significant rivalries between Kilbourntown (now Westown) and Juneautown (now East Town). Needless to say there wasn't a lot of cooperation between the groups.

Things came to a head during the Bridge Wars of 1845. Given that East Town is essentially an island between Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River, Kilbourn tried to isolate Juneautown (East Town) from the "mainland" to increase Kilbourntown's (Westown's) leverage. Additionally, there were arguments between the two towns over who should pay for construction and maintenance of the bridges. Violence erupted, with two bridges destoyed. Eventually each side came to their senses, and realized they were stronger together. Kilbourntown, Juneautown and George Walker's settlement (now Walker's Point) merged to form Milwaukee in 1846.

Before merging, each town independently developed their own street grid without coordinating with the other...hence the need for the angled Milwaukee Avenue Bridge to connect the streets.


Begin walking west on Wisconsin Avenue, which is the main street through the heart of downtown Milwaukee. Prior names for the street included Spring Street and Grand Avenue. The Grand Avenue name is likely due to the many theaters, department stores and grand mansions on the street. Eventually, the street was renamed Wisconsin Avenue.


As you walk west, notice the Riverside Theater on your right. The Riverside Theater opened in 1928, featuring vaudeville acts and movies. Much of the orginal interior was destroyed during a fire in 1966. The theater re-opened after the fire, but wasn't fully repaired and revitalized until the early 1980s. In 2005, the theater became part of The Pabst Theater Foundation and began promoting live performances. A wide-variety of artists have performed at the Riverside Theater since, including Sheryl Crow, John Mellencamp, Oasis, Eddie Vedder, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson.

Cross Plankinton Avenue and continue walking west on Wisconsin Avenue. At the corner of 2nd and Wisconsin, you'll see the home of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra -- the newly refurbished Bradley Symphony Center. Orginally the Warner Grand Theater, recent renovations have restored this historic theater to its former glory.

Walk further west, and stop at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (formerly Old World Third Street).