Diamond Jubilee: Third Ward, Milwaukee

The "Historic Third Ward" is an old neighborhood connected to manufacturing and Great Lakes shipping; it is filled with old buildings and warehouses that have been totally gentrified. Now it is one of the most desirable places to live in the city.

The Third Ward is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Milwaukee. During the early years of the city, the Third Ward was a relatively flat, swampy area located between the shore of Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River. In the 1850s, the land was drained, and soon wood-frame houses populated the east side of the Ward, while on the west side, along the east side of the Milwaukee River, masonry factories and warehouses were constructed. Irish immigrants were the early settlers of the area. The Ward became known as the "Bloody Third," a reputation the area earned for its frequent fistfights and working class immigrant population.

(Wikipedia)

Milwaukee Public Market

Most of the markets I visited on the trip were "historic". The Milwaukee Public Market is comparatively new (2005) and was built expressly to buoy the ongoing redevelopment of the Third Ward. It is a wonderful place to wander filled with fresh foods. The place has the feel of a Spanish tapas market - a place to wander and "graze". It actually met the hype - the city had done well in its planning.

Third Ward

After the market, I decided to walk through some of the Third Ward and eventually arrive at the lakefront. Unfortunately, the weather still was not cooperative, so I postponed the lake to the next day (in hopes of better weather). The neighborhood is filled with trendy restaurants, theatres, and interesting outdoor art. If I were younger, it is exactly the kind of place that would have attracted me. I enjoyed my wandering.

I crossed over the Milwaukee River to Walker's Point, a newly developing neighborhood, but found it rough around the edges and lacking the vibe (and people) of the Third Ward. I decided to loop back to the city on a trail following the Menomee River.

After crossing the river via the bridges of South Sixth Street (which was not pedestrian friendly), I found myself passing in front of the main production facility for Harley Davidson. I mentally gave a shout out to my friends back in York, PA who worked at the factory there. I considered visiting the museum, but like many other places, it was closed due to COVID. However, I did see "where Harleys are made". Big check.

July 2021

I returned to town right by the train station and retreated to the hotel. The day had given light showers on and off - Milwaukee was not cutting me any breaks weather-wise. Nonetheless, my impression of the city had only improved. Yes, there were some areas still rough around the edges, but overall everything I had seen had impressed me.

I hoped the next morning I would get some decent weather to explore the lakeside park.