About Us
Historic Milwaukee, Inc. (HMI) is a private, non-profit educational and advocacy organization, founded in 1974, whose mission is dedicated to increasing awareness of, and commitment to, Milwaukee’s history, architecture, and the preservation of our built environment.
The Event
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Doors Open Milwaukee is Historic Milwaukee, Inc.'s biggest, most ambitious
project. The two-day event will open the doors to over 100 buildings around the
city, providing the public with behind-the-scenes access to churches, theaters,
museums, universities, and more.
In addition, all Historic Milwaukee members have the opportunity to choose
from over 40 expert-led, in-depth tours allowing for even more exposure to
Milwaukee's history, culture, and architecture. The list of in-depth tours
includes the Gas Light Building, Growing Power, the Harley-Davidson Museum, and
Maryland Avenue Montessori School.
Fundraising
Historic Milwaukee is a small organization with only 3 paid employees. 15,000 people attended last year’s event. It's a huge event and a major undertaking for us. One of the keys to
making it successful for guests is the event guide. The guide is fundamental to
the Doors Open experience. It is a navigational tool steering people through
the city. It is also a souvenir item that can be used after the event.
We want the guide to be comprehensive and of the highest
quality. It includes a detailed map and descriptions of all the buildings. Creating
it is very expensive. It costs about $35,000 to do it right.
The money we raise will be used to pay for the cost of printing this event guide and organizing Doors Open.
Help us make Doors Open a success for years to come!
Note on T-Shirt Orders:
In order for your T-shirt to be ready for pick up during Doors Open Milwaukee, your pledge (at the $25 level or above) must be made by September 9. All pledges including a shirt made after September 9 will need to pick up their shirt at Historic Milwaukee's office, 207 E. Michigan St., 5th Floor.
