Women of MKE

Who runs the world? The women of Milwaukee, that's who! The city would not be where it is today without the efforts and hard work of the women who live here. The freedoms and privileges in this city have stemmed from the incredible achievements of astounding ladies. Here you can learn about women's impact on cultural institutions or join local groups to support women's efforts. To all of the women of Milwaukee working hard and making a difference, we thank you!

Cultural Institutions

 
Beulah Brinton House and Community Center 

Beulah Brinton opened her home as a community center for working-class families in 1872. The historic home now houses the Bay View Historical Society and the Beulah Brinton Community Center continues Brinton’s work to this day. 

 
Golda Meir School 

Golda Meir School was built in 1890 as Fourth Street Grade School before being renamed and rededicated in 1979 to honor Golda Meir, a grade school attendee there from 1906 to 1912. Meir would go on to become Israel’s prime minister after attending high school and college in Milwaukee. 

 
Golda Meir Library 

Located on the campus of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, theGolda Meir Library is named for the former prime minister of Israel. After graduating from Milwaukee’s North Division High School, Meir attended Milwaukee State Normal School, which would later become UW-Milwaukee. 

 
Halyard Park 

Ardie Clark Halyard was an activist for fair housing, racial equality, and Black homeownership. Halyard Park is named in her and her husband’s honor and remains one of the longest-standing residential neighborhoods for Milwaukee’s Black middle class. 

 
Jewish Museum Milwaukee 

Learn about remarkable local women from Milwaukee’s Jewish community at Jewish Museum Milwaukee, including Former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir and “The Settlement Cookbook” Author Lizzie Black Kander. 

 
Milwaukee Film 

Milwaukee Film offers Women’s History Month programming that features stories about and amplified by women. 

 
North Point Lighthouse 

Georgia Green Stebbins managed North Point Lighthouse 46 years before women were even allowed to vote in the United States. Stebbins is the first female and longest-serving lighthouse keeper of North Point Light. 

 
Vel R. Phillips Avenue Murals 

Vel R. Phillips was a woman of many firsts – including Milwaukee’s first female judge and first person of color to be elected Wisconsin’s Secretary of State. In 2018, the Milwaukee Common Council – to which she was the first African-American elected – unanimously voted to rename 4th Street in her honor. Head  to Vel R. Phillips and North Avenues to see murals honoring Phillips.

 

These gutsy women are the stuff of legend in our city. Thanks to their bravery, vision, ingenuity and tenacity, Milwaukee is a better, safer and more just place for all of its residents. We salute…

Women-Owned Businesses

 

Explore Where Unique Unites

Discover the many ways our different cultures, heritages and experiences, make Milwaukee such a Great Place on a Great Lake.