The city of Milwaukee is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Kinnickinnic, Menomonee and Milwaukee rivers. Native Americans, who lived here hundreds of years before European settlers arrived, gave this area its name. They called it "mahn-a-wau-kie seepe," which means "Gathering Place by the Waters."  The city of Milwaukee is the cultural and economic center of the metropolitan area. The 17th largest city in the nation, it is known for its cleanliness, beauty and ethnic diversity. Because of its diverse ethnic heritage there are a variety of ethnic  neighborhoods scattered throughout the city, each with its own distinct flavor and charm. These are quiet, residential neighborhoods, with many parks and small commercial districts. Milwaukee's ethnic melting pot heritage is celebrated every summer with an array of ethnic festivals, held on the lake front at Henry Maier Festival Park.

Genuine American

 The rivers divide the city, both physically and symbolically,  into, separate "Sides," each with its own history, customs and culture. The 1/2-mile wide Menomonee River Valley, which divides the city's "North and South Sides," once the industrial center of the city, is now being redeveloped  with an eye toward aesthetics incorporated into industrial, commercial and recreational use. The Milwaukee River, which splits the East and West sides, has undergone an extensive rebuild in the past several years.   Riverwalk is a 10-block system of riverfront walkways and plazas, with places to shop, eat or just relax. "RiverSplash"  is a celebration of the Milwaukee River held along the river in June. The Kinnickinnic River separates the area known as Bay View from the rest of the South Side. Incorporated as a village in 1879, it was annexed by Milwaukee eight years later. The community still thinks independently form the city, with its own commercial districts and celebrations.

         Downtown Milwaukee is a mixture of new and old.  New award-winning towers have been built next to historic landmarks. The Grand Avenue Mall is an example of this blend, with historic buildings built between 1887 and 1908 and modern architecture in a 160 store, four-block- long retail shopping center. Most of the downtown buildings are connected by enclosed skywalks. These skyways enable visitors and residents alike to access  downtown shopping and businesses,   hotels and convention centers all year round. 

    Milwaukee residents love a good party, and find any reason to have one almost every weekend of the year. The city has been nicknamed the "City of Festivals", and rightly so, for there are festivals, fairs, parades, carnivals and many other events going on all the time. If you can't find anything to do or see, then you're just not looking. On top of all the celebrating we have a world-class symphony orchestra, two opera companies, a repertory theater, numerous "Off Broadway" theaters and historical and art museums. In fact, the citizens of Milwaukee donate more per capita to the performing arts than any other city in America. We also have sports of all sorts-- the Milwaukee Brewers a National League team, the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, the Milwaukee Admirals hockey team of the IHL, and a host of other teams, both professional and collegiate.

      The city of Milwaukee is a unique experience. It is a large metropolitan city with all the amenities that you would expect, yet it has small town ambience, with friendly people and clean streets. There are beautiful lakeside parks, countless places to shop and numerous festivals to attend. The city is ethnically and economically diverse and is very proud of it.

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