Milwaukee
Third Ward Ghost Walk
What To Expect
"Do you want to have some real fun?" With those words, the wildly eccentric Clair Richardson founded the Skylight Music Theatre. While Clair died in 1980, many say he never left. In fact, his human remains still reside in the building and have even taken part in two productions. To this day, his ghost is known to disrupt live performances if the perpetual spotlight, shining on his urn in the Cabot Theatre’s trap room, is allowed to go out. The stage manager checks that the bulb is burning before each and every show.
The Third Ward, dubbed “The Bloody Third” in 1846, is a charming arts district today but conceals a violent gangster past. Once home to Milwaukee’s mafia operations and, before that, Irish gangsters, known as the Third Ward Cowboys, its streets have been touched by tragedy and the paranormal.
Expect to learn more about paranormal happenings and ghost sightings at the Skylight Opera Theatre, the Italian Community Center, and MIAD, as well as many other lesser-known locations. Ghosts stories with Third Ward connections including supernatural encounters at the Hilton Garden Inn and the Pfister Hotel.
Expert paranormal guide
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Easy/Moderate
$25 per person
Why Choose American Ghost Walks?
The Milwaukee Third Ward Ghost Walk was developed by lifelong Milwaukeean and paranormal researcher Allison Jornlin who is Brew City's original ghost historian and winner of the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference's 2016 "Researcher of the Year" award. Painstaking investigation was conducted on location with trips to local archives and interviews with business owners and experiencers to provide the most accurate and fascinating haunted history in addition stories you can't find anywhere else! Other tour companies use our research and the ghost stories we found, but we are the original Milwaukee Ghost Tour since 2008.
Check out our tour founder telling some Milwaukee ghost stories to Channel 12 WISN-TV
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Intrepid Ghost Hunters of the Third Ward...
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Milwaukee Ghostbusters!
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Spooky fun in Milwaukee's Bloody Third.
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The Public Market where the tour meets outside of
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Join us for Milwaukee's original Ghost Adventure!
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Explore the haunted streets of Milwaukee
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More haunted hunters...
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Terrifed tourists...
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Spooked in Brew City!
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Important Info
- Metered street parking is available as well as a paid lot behind the Milwaukee Public Market.
- The duration of our tours is 1.5-2 hours depending on the engagement of each group. Please allow for 2 hours since our guides take pride in what they do and can sometimes provide updates and extra juicy details when guests ask questions.
- This tour runs in cold temperatures and light rain, so please dress accordingly and wear comfortable shoes.
- The tour route is wheelchair-accessible, just let us know if you plan on using one, so we can adjust the route appropriately for your comfort.
- Because this is a limited capacity tour, all sales are final. But we will reschedule you if you have an emergency, we love ghosts, not monsters!
- Service animals are welcome but for liability issues, please leave your furry friends at home.
Reviews
Itinerary
List of Services
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Milwaukee Public MarketItem Link List Item 1
Meet on the corner St. Paul Avenue and Water Street for a history lesson they never taught you in school. Get glimpse of the scandalous 19th Century past of these streets when the area was nicknamed the Bloody Third.
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Milwaukee Institute of Art and DesignItem Link
What have the teachers, students, and security guards experienced at this 1920 building (originally The Jane Petit Milwaukee Terminal Building)?
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The Marshall BuildingItem Link
Who was the vanishing man in dusty overalls who allegedly vexed a writer for Milwaukee’s famous weekly newspaper Shepherd Express?
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Commission RowItem Link
The block bounded by N. Broadway & St. Paul Avenue was once known as Commission Row. For about a hundred years, if you wanted fresh produce this is where you came to buy it. Many believe this area was also once ground zero for Milwaukee’s mafia operations. Today tales of ghostly wiseguys abound.
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And much much more... Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
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Meeting Point
Corner of St. Paul Ave. & Water Street, in front of the Milwaukee Public Market (400 N Water St, Milwaukee, WI 53202)
Highlights
- Take a selfie with the Bronze Fonz and discover Henry Winkler’s lesser-known, but significant part in paranormal history.
- Marvel at the local adventures of a mummified cat and the occult heritage he represents.
- Visit Milwaukee’s most famous haunted location and get an update about who it's haunting lately.
- Be amazed at the haunted hi-jinks taking place at Milwaukee's most unique bar
- Because this is a limited capacity tour, all sales are final. But we will reschedule you if you have an emergency, we love ghosts, not monsters!
- Service animals are welcome but for liability issues, please leave your furry friends at home.
Check out our tour founder telling a Milwaukee ghost story to Channel 4 WTMJ-TV
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do you go inside any of the haunted buildings?
We focus on building exteriors and outdoor spaces. Businesses and public places are open for you to visit during regular business hours. Otherwise we respect the privacy of individuals and organizations and expect that our guests do the same.
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Do guests really see ghosts on this tour?
We can never guarantee a supernatural encounter, but we will explain paranormal phenomena such as cold spots and residual hauntings. What we do guarantee: Our local connections and dedication to research means you'll get authentic accounts — in all their shocking detail.
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Can I bring my pet?
Service animals are welcome. However, for liability issues, please leave your furry friends at home if you don’t require their assistance.
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Is this ghost tour kid-appropriate?
While our tours do not contain anything too graphic or inappropriate, we find that kids that enjoy history have the best time. You know your children and that's left up to you. We do not recommend bringing children in strollers because sometimes that can be difficult with larger walking groups.
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What if I'm late or cannot find my guide?
We do our best to answer calls and emails as promptly as they are received. Please make sure to leave a voicemail with the city and tourtime. We try to accommodate travel and weather issues, but our public tours cannot wait for more than 10 minutes. Reschedules are available if the date you are interested in is not sold out.
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What is your cancellation policy?
Because this is a limited capacity tour, all sales are final. But we will reschedule you if you have an emergency, we love ghosts, not monsters!
Copyright 2024 Huberty LLC DBA American Ghost Walks