Haunted History Tour of the Historic Third Ward

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.

Built in 1910, this building originally housed the F. Mayer Boot & Shoe Co. We keep the memory of a spectral little boy named Timmy alive. Over the years when the Institute of Beauty and Wellness occupied the building this wee ghost was blamed for many supernatural shenanigans.

The lovable yet ostentatious Clair Richardson founded the Skylight Music Theatre 1959. Although he died in 1980 before he could see his dream fully realized, his cremated remains have resided inside, in the Cabot Theatre’s trap room, since 1993. Many believe his spirit has returned. As in life, Clair loves to make his presence known.

This building was once known as the Pabst Brewing Co. Saloon and Boarding House. Perhaps the unfortunate "boarding house" label, a term that was often a euphemism for houses of ill repute, has led to its current reputation as a former brothel and the legend of the unlucky lady of the night who haunts it

Gossip about a harrowing late night elevator ride turns out to have some basis in fact. Who was the vanishing man in dusty overalls who allegedly vexed a writer for Milwaukee’s famous weekly newspaper the Shepherd Express?

Legends

An eerie encounter remains a mystery and adds to the intrigue surrounding The Marshall Building. The incident has left the employee and others wondering about the true nature of the apparition.

Many eerie occurrences have left students and teachers wondering if the building is haunted. Despite the unsettling experiences, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design continues to thrive as a center for creativity and learning.

The oldest building in The Third Ward contains one of its darkest ghost stories....

The Lady Elgin Memorial Marker in Milwaukee commemorates the tragic sinking of the steamship Lady Elgin on September 8, 1860. The disaster, which occurred on Lake Michigan, resulted in the loss of over 300 lives, making it one of the deadliest maritime disasters in Great Lakes history.