The Magnificent Machines of Milwaukee

Have you ever used a QWERTY keyboard? Ridden a motorcycle? Adjusted the thermostat? Been a passenger on a boat with an outboard motor? If answering ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you have a Milwaukee engineer/inventor to thank. See, all of these marvels, and many more, originated in Milwaukee. From household names like the Sawzall, to more arcane developments like DESCO’s diving apparatus, Magnificent Machines of Milwaukee seeks to showcase not only Milwaukee-born equipment and machinery, but also the engineers who created them.

This exhibition will highlight some of the most significant engineering marvels in Milwaukee’s history and will include photographs, documents, ephemera, and a number of the actual machines highlighted in the book of the same name by engineer Thomas Fehring, who also serves as guest curator. Nash automobiles, Merkel motorcycles, Evinrude outboards, Johnson Controls environmental systems, Masterlock locks, and Stereo-Realist cameras—these are but a few of the Magnificent Machines of Milwaukee, a one-of-a-kind exhibit filled with one-of-a-kind inventions.

Gallery Hours:

Mon.-Fri.: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday: Noon to 6 p.m.

Sunday: 1 to 4 p.m.

Regular Admission Applies