Located directly across from Pabst Theater sits Milwaukee's iconic City Hall. (Be careful! Recent construction in the area may limited access. Be sure to abide by any construction signs and warnings.)

Completed in 1895 and designed by architect Henry C. Koch, this building is now a National Historic Landmark. Built in the Flemish Renaissance Revival Style at a cost of just over $1 million, the building has significant German influences which reflect Milwaukee's large German immigrant population of the late 1800s.

When completed in 1895, the 353 foot tall bell tower made City Hall the third tallest structure in the United States, behind the Washington Monument and Philadelphia's City Hall. It was also Milwaukee's tallest building until the completion of the First Wisconsin Center in 1973.

The building required eight million bricks and weighs approximately 41,000 tons. It contains more than 47,000 square feet of mosaic and marble flooring, and features approximately 107,000 square feet of office and meeting space.

A couple of other fun facts: The flag pole at the top of the bell tower is 40 feet tall, making the total height from base to top of the flagpole 393 feet. Also, the bell in the bell tower is named after Solomon Juneau, founder of Juneautown and Milwaukee's first mayor.

Milwaukee City Hall is open to the public during normal business hours, so be sure to step inside if you have the opportunity. The interior's 20 x 70 foot open atrium which rises eight stories to a large skylight is an impressive sight!

On a sad note, seven people jumped to their deaths in the atrium during the Great Depression, and an eighth died of a stroke after one of the jumpers nearly missed him! In 1935, protective wiring was placed around the center rails to prevent accidents and suicides. They remained in place until 1988.

When ready to move to our next stop, proceed north along Water Street, crossing Kilbourn Avenue, to Red Arrow Park.