"Old
Milwaukee - 1920"
by Paul McGehee. Milwaukee, the largest city in the state of Wisconsin,
was incorporated in 1846, combining the area of three smaller towns.
The settling spot for many Germans and Poles, it is no wonder that it
is world renowned for its many breweries and its delicious foods,
especially varieties of sausage. Perfectly situated as a port city,
Milwaukee's water access has made it a commercial hub, especially with
its proximity to nearby Chicago, which lies just south of the city
along the shores of Lake Michigan. This early 1920 view shows the
passenger steamer "E. G. Crosby" on the Milwaukee River, looking south
from the Wells Street Bridge. Along the riverfront you see the
Manufacturers Home Building, the First National Bank Building, the
Marshall & Ilsley Bank Building and the beautifully ornate Pabst
Building in the middle of the scene. The Pabst Building was completed
in 1891 and was the city's first skyscraper. Built for brewing mogul
Frederick Pabst, it stood until its demolition in 1981. As you can see,
yesterday's Milwaukee was booming with business and manufacturing.
Today, Milwaukee is experiencing a resurgence of construction in the
downtown area, and also in tourism with the beautiful RiverWalk, the
Milwaukee Art Museum and many other family-friendly destinations.
Microbreweries are springing up all over and, after years of commercial
decline, "Old Milwaukee" is once again becoming famous for its beer!
"Old Milwaukee - 1920" is
faithfully reproduced from Paul's original color pencil and acrylic
artwork in a
limited edition of 2,000 hand-signed prints.
|