What, When, Where
Doors Open Milwaukee 2024 was hosted by Historic Milwaukee on September 28th and 29th. This free, annual event included over 150 locations across the city that are usually closed to the public. Buildings ranging from the UWM Greenhouses, the Basilica of St. Josaphat, to the Historic Pabst Brewery hosted thousands of interested Milwaukee residents. The event allowed attendees to explore the unique architecture and history of Milwaukee buildings while helping businesses advertise themselves.
United States District Courthouse
The United States District Courthouse hosted Doors Open visitors on Saturday and Sunday, but most days you can go in, look around, and view court proceedings. This courthouse serves the Eastern District of Wisconsin, covering about half of the state’s population. During Doors Open, visitors could tour the main atrium, the office of Senator Ron Johnson, and the three main courtrooms, as well as listen to presentations from judges, attorneys, and the US Marshals.
Built in Richardson Romanesque style, the courthouse was constructed in the 1890s. It was one of the first federal buildings in the state of Wisconsin, and was built to convey the power of the government. The federal courthouse also houses a post office and Senator Ron Johnson’s office. The building has a long list of agencies that have previously operated there, including the IRS and USPS.
The Centennial Courtroom was added in the 1990s when the courthouse was updated. It was built with technology in mind, while mimicking the ornate style of the other courtrooms. The Historic Courtroom is the smallest of the three and has beautiful marble panels behind the judge’s box. The Ceremonial Courtroom is covered in carved wood paneling and new US citizens are sworn in there.
All Hands Boatworks MKE
All Hands Boatworks is a non-profit organization that is carrying on Wisconsin’s boatbuilding tradition. Hosting tours on Saturday and Sunday, visitors could tour the workshop where instructors have worked with middle and high school students to build wooden boats for 11 years. The students learn to safely use hand and power tools, as well as collaboration, organization, creative and critical thinking skills. They host programs like summer camps and workshops throughout the year. Additionally, they offer woodworking classes to adults.
Milwaukee Microgreens
On the north side of Bay View is a warehouse that houses an urban farm. The crop they cultivate: microgreens. Microgreens are the sprouts of edible plants that are harvested before they grow to maturity.9-16 days after the seeds have germinated, they are ready to be harvested and eaten. Since the microgreens have just sprouted, the nutrients and flavor are very concentrated. They also take up much less space than growing a plant to its full size. Milwaukee Microgreens has been in business for over 10 years, operating inside a building that used to belong to Louis Allis Specialty Motors Company. Visitors could watch farmers as they planted new trays of plants, try 5 different varieties of microgreens, and purchase fresh greens, grow kits, and apparel.
