The Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion

We hadn't been to the Pabst in 20+ years - we decided to visit because the house is all decorated for Christmas. I believe normally there is a guided tour but during Christmas it's self guided.That said, there's never a docent far away - they're happy to answer all your questions. I found them incredibly knowledgeable and friendly.The house is of course beautiful and very well preserved. Since it's the holidays, there was A BAR in the foyer serving up PBR and cocktails. That's my kind of museum!Know that they've changed things a bit - you need to check in at the visitor center which is directly next door. They have lockers to store your stuff, souvenirs and lots of MkE history. Also, they'll sell you drinks that you can take up to the mansion in the case that there's not a bar set up.Very Milwaukee in the best ways.

Visiting the historic Pabst mansion during the holidays is always a treat. Each room is decorated by a different artist/company for Christmas, and the decor is different every year. The tours are self guided but docents are available throughout the three floors to answer any questions. They are quite knowledgeable and I learn something new every year.I did not go last year, but something new this year was a bar in the main entrance hall. Drinks were sold, alcoholic and non, along with decorative cookies, travel mugs and possibly a few other items. I did purchase a soda before leaving, but I was surprised to hear that I would have been able to walk around with an open drink. I urge everyone to be VERY careful about this for obvious reasons. The old atrium that used to serve as a gift shop/check in has been removed. I was told they took it apart brick by brick and cataloged everything, just like after the Chicago Worlds fair from which it came. I don't know if they plan to rebuild it on site or elsewhere though. The new gift shop and guest check in is right next door, so it's not much of a walk. Speaking of, if the parking on mansion grounds is full, there's a lot to park in right across the street. Again, just a short walk away. Photos are allowed of course, but NO flash and NO video. Please abide these rules. It can get crowded, and most guests are mindful to avoid getting in the way. But anything more than a quick shot really can disrupt the experience and traffic flow through the rooms. Especially since most rooms only have the one door to get in and out.This year was the first year I was able to see the third floor. In the past it had been unavailable to guests. It was a special experience and I was really intrigued by how different it looked from the other two floors.Please note that tickets can be purchased day of at the guest services next door, but it's recommended to buy them online in advance. I'm not sure if they limit daily traffic.

Beautiful place to tour. Volunteer working are friendly and helpful as well as informative. Park across the street (no charge), tour starts in the gift shop lol. Opposite of Disney, which always dumps you off in their expensive trinket stores! A little over done for Christmas, I would rather see the architecture than some gaudy decorations. But that's just my opinion. This family has an interesting history in Milwaukee. Do you research and attend the Best tour before you go here, you will know a lot more!

We had a fabulous time on the tour! Ken was incredibly informative and funny. The house was beautiful. So many fun facts about the city and the beer industry/Pabst. Highly recommend this tour for anyone on a trip to MKE! Thanks, Ken!

My husband and I went on PBR brewery tour a couple years ago and have been wanting to see the mansion as well, which we finally did! We made reservations for a Saturday afternoon at $17/person. We just did the regular guided tour, but they also had several specialty tours including a mimosa tour which sounded super enticing!We arrived about 20 minutes before the scheduled time. As a heads up, you have to go to the gift store next to the mansion first and then you walk as a group to the mansion for the tour itself.Our tour guide was very patient and knowledgeable. She guided us through the whole mansion where we were able to explore almost every room. We leaned about the Pabst family, the mansion, and their businesses. The house is beautiful and it was really cool to hear some of the stories that went along with the history of the building. The whole tour lasted a little more than an hour and while I did not feel rushed, I would've loved to spend some more time looking at all the things!

Lovely historic home near Marquette in Milwaukee. We went to the Sunday morning mimosa tour and were very pleased with the tour, our guide, and this amazing home. It is incredible to hear about the history of the home and how it has changed and been restored over the years. Worth a visit to learn about the history of the Pabst family and German heritage in Milwaukee.

I'm honestly not a big fan Pabst Blue Ribbon(who is?!), but the $16 guided tour of the Pabst Mansion was very interesting. The mansion itself does not look very large from the outside, but once you're inside the place it seems so more spacious! Most of the rooms have been restored to its historical accuracy, with all vintage furniture, decor, paintings, art works, and wallpaper taking you back in time to all its glory. The energetic tour guide shared some fun stories, interesting tidbits, and rich history of the Pabst family and mansion. Fascinating!

I loved the tour! You begin the tour on the front porch. I found it all very interesting without being too dry or bogged down with dates etc. the house is stunning and you can just feel its history and excellent architecture. East street parking and a lot across the street. They have a small gift shop as well

This was a very entertaining and informative tour. The house itself is amazing, with the majority of the house looking as it would have looked 100 years ago. Our guide was very knowledgable about the history of the house and did a great job. We enjoyed our visit and recommend that anyone visiting the area take the tour. Parking is also very easy for the early tours with a lot right across the street.

This is the first time I have visited during the holiday season and it was worth it! The 50 Christmas trees throughout the house were beautifully decorated, reflecting the room colors and styles. Speaking with the tour volunteers was helpful to create the story of the entire house and family who lived here. The history it tells is fascinating and worth learning.There is parking on the grounds (in the back) but plenty right across the street also. The ticket area is next door, to the west of the Mansion now that the building annex is no longer there.Knowing that the Pabst Mansion is one of the only remaining beautiful homes from the past it is imperative that we continue to support its future. The tickets are not expensive, and a self-guided tour allows you to take your time and appreciate all the designs and furnishings have to tell us.No matter what time of year you visit, the mansion is beautiful and worth learning about.