Grohmann Museum
Grohmann Museum
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
About
With an ever-growing collection, there is always something new to see. The Grohmann Museum Collection is comprised of more than 1,700 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from 1580 to the present. They reflect a variety of artistic styles and subjects that document the evolution of organized work—from farming and mining to trades as glassblowing and seaweed gathering.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
197 reviews
Excellent
150
Very good
39
Average
3
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Young
Barrington, IL12 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
My husband and I visited mid-week. We really enjoyed this unique museum. The entryway is architecturally stunning. We began on the rooftop which is a unique and beautiful/calm oasis. The paintings are extremely interesting and are about various types of work over the years. It is quite a fascinating approach to collecting.
The collection is primarily very Euro-centric. There was perhaps only one painting that I saw that had black or brown workers. The collection does not include paintings from continents other than Europe or N America.
I saw one painting attributed to a student of Rembrandt. However it appeared to be a copy, but wasn’t stated as a copy.
There was also a painting named “The Money Lenders” which caricatured the Jewish people (without comment by the museum).
That being said, we enjoyed visiting this museum and collection and I would highly recommend visiting!!
The collection is primarily very Euro-centric. There was perhaps only one painting that I saw that had black or brown workers. The collection does not include paintings from continents other than Europe or N America.
I saw one painting attributed to a student of Rembrandt. However it appeared to be a copy, but wasn’t stated as a copy.
There was also a painting named “The Money Lenders” which caricatured the Jewish people (without comment by the museum).
That being said, we enjoyed visiting this museum and collection and I would highly recommend visiting!!
Written August 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leigh W
14 contributions
Apr 2021
This museum might not be for everyone, but I really like it. It's comprised of a private collection of paintings of people engaged in work...quite fascinating to see the extraordinary portrayal of everyday things. The rooftop statue garden is a must-see (closed in winter). If you find a painting that especially catches your eye, you can have a print made of it. Really a cool place.
Written March 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Happy Traveler
Chicago, IL2,514 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
The Grohmann Museum is a hidden gem. Super easy to get to, tickets won’t break your pocketbook at $5 for adult! a lot of street parking and near downtown. This is part of the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) rightfully the predominant theme revolves around “The Art of Work”.
Literally from ceiling to floors, art is all around you. Floor Mosaic, stained glass windows, ceiling murals, bronze sculptures and striking paintings. Many of the paintings depict actual historical events and places!
There are 3 floors and an amazing sculpture garden on the rooftop. This museum was very well planned and laid out meticulously for all ages. Definitely we will be back to bring others to appreciate this fine example of Art at Work!
Literally from ceiling to floors, art is all around you. Floor Mosaic, stained glass windows, ceiling murals, bronze sculptures and striking paintings. Many of the paintings depict actual historical events and places!
There are 3 floors and an amazing sculpture garden on the rooftop. This museum was very well planned and laid out meticulously for all ages. Definitely we will be back to bring others to appreciate this fine example of Art at Work!
Written February 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deb_from_the_Burgh
Pittsburgh, PA46 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Read this review with the understanding that i wasn't prepared for this to be a private collection about work. So, I was shocked that very little about American workers. As I'm from Pittsburgh, I expected the iron and steel section to have a good number of works reflecting US steel workers and industry. Nope. The rooftop sculpture gallery, although beautiful, included only one woman depicted as weak and exhausted next to her strong male companion. There was nothing in the collection acknowledging the incredible contributions of the "Rosie the riviter" generation. And you can probably guess...zero about the work of American enslaved people.
The facility is beautifully designed. If you go, just keep in mind that this is one man's collection.
The facility is beautifully designed. If you go, just keep in mind that this is one man's collection.
Written July 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas O
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Amazing downtown museum with a rich and focused collection centered on labor in many different forms. Although you will see a preponderance of 19c German romanticist works, there are may others on display and the signage and space are excellent. Definitely worth going!
Written September 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deb
29 contributions
May 2022
The bronze figurines were so "life-like". The faces had so much detail. If you go and you should, after you pay the admission, take the elevator to the "top" floor. Start your tour from the patio. Go outside and enjoy the bronze figurines and take pictures. It is very beautiful. Then go inside on the same floor and look at all of the beautiful paintings. Start going down to each floor, with the spiral staircase. You will eventually get back to the 1st floor.There is much to see, so plan on one hour to one and a half hours. Also, there is a "free parking" for the Grohmann Museum. You need to leave your car, model, make & license number at the desk, when paying your admission.
Written June 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ScenicTrek
New Jersey2,007 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
We came here for a visit on a Sunday afternoon in early October 2018. We were greeted quite cordially by two people at the front desk (MSOE students?). Our admission included not only the museum but also a 58-page color booklet about the museum. What a nice bonus!
From the moment you walk in and see the exquisite mosaic on the floor, the eye-catching mural three stories up on the ceiling above you, and the beautiful architecture of the front entrance and staircase, you know that you are in a very special place. This museum was one of the best attractions we visited during our stay in Milwaukee. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
The people at the front desk suggested that we start our tour from the top and work our way down. So we did. We started with the rooftop sculpture garden, which has a beautiful mural and fifteen or so life-size or larger sculptures. You also get a really nice view of the surrounding area and buildings. On a warm and sunny day it must be spectacular. (It was overcast when we went.)
The three floors are distinguished by color and subject matter. The 3rd floor is blue and contains works relating to mythology, smiths, artisans, and the medical profession. A highlight is a 1693 German book on urology / uroscopy. It lies open inside a display case, so you can only see the open pages, but it is intriguing nonetheless. The 2nd floor is green and contains works relating to construction, quarrying, roads and bridges, brick making, beer and wine making, and harvesting. A highlight for me on this floor was a Norman Rockwell painting. The 1st floor is red and contains works relating to early industry, iron and steel making, and mining. It also has framed photographs of various subject matter.
The paintings throughout the museum are mostly substantial in size. There are smaller bronze sculptures positioned in the lobby of the rooftop sculpture garden and throughout the museum on pedestals. Each floor has a couple of corner display cases with more sculptures in them.
Helpful things to know:
1) The museum is affiliated with the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE).
2) There is a rest room on each floor.
3) There are padded benches on each floor, so there are plenty of places to sit and relax. Even the rooftop garden has (metallic) benches for people to just sit and enjoy the view.
4) There are sitting areas near the front staircase on each floor. They consist of a few chairs and a coffee table with magazines and books. It’s a quaint touch.
5) There is an elevator for people with mobility issues.
6) There is a modest gift shop on the first floor (books, shirts, postcards, coffee mugs, etc.). Just outside of it is one of those penny-squeezing machines that makes souvenir coins in four different designs. Be sure to bring quarters and some shiny pennies!
7) The entire place was immaculate. It is clearly evident that the people who work there and attend to the museum’s upkeep take great pride in their work. How fitting!
8) There is a designated parking lot with a limited number of spaces just north of the museum. There is also street parking. We happened to visit on a Sunday afternoon, and we had no problem parking on the street just a few spaces up from the front entrance.
I would unhesitatingly recommend this museum. It’s a real gem and definitely worth a visit.
If my review was helpful to you, please consider clicking the green thumbs-up / Yes button. Thank you!
From the moment you walk in and see the exquisite mosaic on the floor, the eye-catching mural three stories up on the ceiling above you, and the beautiful architecture of the front entrance and staircase, you know that you are in a very special place. This museum was one of the best attractions we visited during our stay in Milwaukee. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
The people at the front desk suggested that we start our tour from the top and work our way down. So we did. We started with the rooftop sculpture garden, which has a beautiful mural and fifteen or so life-size or larger sculptures. You also get a really nice view of the surrounding area and buildings. On a warm and sunny day it must be spectacular. (It was overcast when we went.)
The three floors are distinguished by color and subject matter. The 3rd floor is blue and contains works relating to mythology, smiths, artisans, and the medical profession. A highlight is a 1693 German book on urology / uroscopy. It lies open inside a display case, so you can only see the open pages, but it is intriguing nonetheless. The 2nd floor is green and contains works relating to construction, quarrying, roads and bridges, brick making, beer and wine making, and harvesting. A highlight for me on this floor was a Norman Rockwell painting. The 1st floor is red and contains works relating to early industry, iron and steel making, and mining. It also has framed photographs of various subject matter.
The paintings throughout the museum are mostly substantial in size. There are smaller bronze sculptures positioned in the lobby of the rooftop sculpture garden and throughout the museum on pedestals. Each floor has a couple of corner display cases with more sculptures in them.
Helpful things to know:
1) The museum is affiliated with the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE).
2) There is a rest room on each floor.
3) There are padded benches on each floor, so there are plenty of places to sit and relax. Even the rooftop garden has (metallic) benches for people to just sit and enjoy the view.
4) There are sitting areas near the front staircase on each floor. They consist of a few chairs and a coffee table with magazines and books. It’s a quaint touch.
5) There is an elevator for people with mobility issues.
6) There is a modest gift shop on the first floor (books, shirts, postcards, coffee mugs, etc.). Just outside of it is one of those penny-squeezing machines that makes souvenir coins in four different designs. Be sure to bring quarters and some shiny pennies!
7) The entire place was immaculate. It is clearly evident that the people who work there and attend to the museum’s upkeep take great pride in their work. How fitting!
8) There is a designated parking lot with a limited number of spaces just north of the museum. There is also street parking. We happened to visit on a Sunday afternoon, and we had no problem parking on the street just a few spaces up from the front entrance.
I would unhesitatingly recommend this museum. It’s a real gem and definitely worth a visit.
If my review was helpful to you, please consider clicking the green thumbs-up / Yes button. Thank you!
Written November 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
701beatec
Vonore, TN23 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
One of the two of us is an engineer by degree and we stumbled upon this museum by accident as we were walking around downtown Milwaukee and the lakefront. We were intrigued by what we thought we saw at the top of the building so, took a chance, and entered the building.
It was a great pleasure to wander the three floor of paintings and other art work depicting humans at work - men and women - whether on a farm or a foundry or weaving, for examples. And then the pièce de résistance - the roof top statuary garden. Wonderful.
I would recommend a visit to anyone. A real treasure!
It was a great pleasure to wander the three floor of paintings and other art work depicting humans at work - men and women - whether on a farm or a foundry or weaving, for examples. And then the pièce de résistance - the roof top statuary garden. Wonderful.
I would recommend a visit to anyone. A real treasure!
Written June 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pittsburgh_cyclist
Pittsburgh, PA566 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
The highlight is definitely the rooftop sculpture garden, but the Grohmann Museum offers a unique insight into the way artists have depicted labour over the years. My main criticism is that it is a personal collection so the works on display reflect Mr Grohmann’s prejudices - there are few Black people and the workers are largely male. Even so, I spent two hours here and learned a lot.
Written April 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robin B
1 contribution
May 2017 • Couples
This place is absolutely amazing, but I was really disappointed by the severe underrepresentation of people of color in the artwork. I found 4-5 pieces featuring people of color among the hundreds on display.
Written May 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rsmacleish
Portage, WI
Is there parking nearby?
TheWuch
South Milwaukee, WI226 contributions
They do have a FREE lot you enter from Milwaukee Ave.
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