East Town in Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Pabst Theater

Photographed by Paul F, May 18, 2010

1. Pabst Theater Marker

Inscription. Designed by Otto Strack and built by Milwaukee brewing magnate Captain Frederick Pabst, the Pabst Theater was constructed on the site of an earlier opera house destroyed by fire in 1895. The Pabst was completed in just six months and opened on November 9, 1895. One of the first all-electric theaters, the Pabst also included such innovations as air conditioning and fire-proof construction. The Pabst was home to one of the finest German theater companies in the United States and epitomized German culture in Wisconsin while also featuring this nation’s greatest artists on its stage.

Erected 1992 by Wisconsin State Historical Society. (Marker Number 309.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks, and the Wisconsin Historical Society series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1690.

Location. 43° 2.461′ N, 87° 54.619′ W. Marker is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is in East Town. It is at the intersection of Wells Street and N. Water Street, on the left when traveling east on Wells Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 144 East Wells St, Milwaukee WI 53202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within walking distance of this marker: Oneida Street Power Plant (within shouting distance of this marker); Oneida Street Station (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Nearly a Century of Planning (about 400 feet away); Architectural Gems on the Riverfront (about 400 feet away); Milwaukee News Bldg. & Milwaukee Abstract Assn. Bldg. (about 600 feet away); Red Lights on the River (about 700 feet away); The Milwaukee River at Play (about 700 feet away); Letter Carriers' Monument (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milwaukee.

Also see . . .
1. Official Website. (Submitted on September 19, 2013, by Trevor Morris of Fond du lac, Wisconsin.)
2. Wisconsin SP Pabst Theater. The National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form describes the Pabst, in part:
"Journalists of 1895 described the Pabst as 'Italianate renaissance' in style, but it cannot be counted among those rather literal classical revival buildings that were appearing in great number throughout our nation by the mid-1890's. Rather it is, as 20th century commentators have noted, a grand example of the 'opulent Victorian Baroque,' with Renaissance sources very freely and richly interpreted. The interior was particularly lavish." The Nomination Form also states: "Finally, it should be noted that the Pabst is Milwaukee's last surviving 19th century theater." (Submitted on November 8, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Pabst Theater Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Robert L Weber, July 13, 2011

2. Pabst Theater Markers

3. Pabst Theater. The Historic American Buildings Survey includes 13 images of both the exterior and interior of the Pabst Theater. (Submitted on November 8, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Pabst Theater looking northwest from Wells Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul F, May 18, 2010

3. Pabst Theater looking northwest from Wells Street

Pabst Theater Entry image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Robert L Weber, July 13, 2011

4. Pabst Theater Entry

The Pabst Theater image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Robert L Weber, July 13, 2011

5. The Pabst Theater

Pabst Theater image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Robert L Weber, July 13, 2011

6. Pabst Theater

Pabst Theater and Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 5, 2021

7. Pabst Theater and Markers

Landmark of the City of Milwaukee image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul F, May 18, 2010

8. Landmark of the City of Milwaukee

Pabst Theatre, erected in 1895 and designated in 1967 as a Landmark of the City of Milwaukee by the Milwaukee Landmarks Commission in recognition of its architectural and historical signficance to the community.

National Register of Historic Places;<br>Historic American Buildings Survey image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul F, May 18, 2010

9. National Register of Historic Places;
Historic American Buildings Survey

The Pabst Theatre has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.

The Pabst Theatre has been recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey of the United States Department of the Interior for its Archives at the Library of Congress.

National Historic Landmark image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul F, May 18, 2010

10. National Historic Landmark

Pabst Theater has been designated a National Historic Landmark. This site possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America. 1991 — National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior.

Photographed by Robert L Weber, July 12, 2011

11. Pabst Theater

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,922 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 28, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on July 14, 2011, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona. 3. submitted on June 28, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 14, 2011, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona. 7. submitted on November 8, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 8, 9, 10. submitted on June 28, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 11. submitted on July 14, 2011, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.