Skywaukee tours take visitors through Milwaukee's skywalk system

GRAEF played a significant role in developing downtown Milwaukee’s skywalk system, now known as “Skywaukee.” And soon, our new headquarters will be connected to that 1.8-miles of indoor walking space.

The temperature outside was in the single digits, but it was a balmy 65 degrees from my perch in a skywalk above Water Street on a March Saturday. Historic Milwaukee Inc. volunteer Steve Kessel spoke to our group of about 20, explaining how some people were unhappy when this skywalk was built since it disrupted street-level views of City Hall to the north.

To minimize the disruption from outside, the skywalks were designed to be as transparent as possible. Of course, they're not see-through, though, and the street-level view is interrupted. From inside, however, the unique second-story perspective made for a terrific view of one of the city's signature buildings.

It was one of many great vistas on a two-hour Skywaukee tour with Historic Milwaukee. The organization offers walking tours of the city’s 1.75-mile skywalk system November through April, taking visitors through most of the nine skywalks that connect buildings across eight city blocks in downtown Milwaukee. During a cold Wisconsin winter or a muddy spring, the tour is a good opportunity to get in some exercise without battling the elements.

For the full article, check out the Journal Sentinel website here.

Contact Chelsey Lewis at (414) 224-2144 or clewis@journalsentinel.com.