Museum general admission tickets can be purchased in person or online.
Review our hours of operation before your next visit.
Upcoming Events
Ofrenda display for Día de los Muertos
October 10 - November 28, 2025
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a Mexican celebration, is a day to celebrate and remember those who have departed. Visit our First Floor to view an authentic display of a traditional ofrenda (altar) and learn more about this pre-Hispanic tradition.
Saturday Storytime Series: Native American Heritage
November 1 & 22, 2025
Families with young children (recommended for ages 3-6) can stop into our Early Learning classroom for hands-on activities and story times that celebrate Indigenous Cultures. Sessions are facilitated by MPM Educators.
Learn with an Expert: Underwater Archaeology
Thursday, November 20, 2025
10-11 a.m. CST
Did you know the bottom of the Great Lakes can reveal fascinating information about how people lived thousands of years ago? In this FREE virtual discussion with Dr. Ashley Lemke, an archaeologist and Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, learn about her research in Lake Huron and what it can tell us about ancient Indigenous cultures. Ask her questions via the chat! For school groups only. Best suited for grades 6-12.
This program will be live-streamed to YouTube and Zoom.
Member Mornings
Saturdays and Sundays
9-10 a.m.
Every weekend, MPM members enjoy early access to the entire Museum before it opens to the general public.
Science on Tap Lecture
"Our Lakes, Our Science: Underwater Archaeology in the Great Lakes" by Dr. Ashley Lemke
Thursday, November 20, 2025
7 p.m.
Join Dr. Ashley Lemke on a journey back in time and below the surface of our Great Lakes. Learn about research in Lake Huron and how you can participate in new archaeological research below Lake Michigan.
Deck the Streets and Village
November 16, 2025 - January 25, 2026
Experience the magic of the holiday season inside two of MPM's most beloved exhibits, Streets of Old Milwaukee, and European Village, where the walkthrough turn-of-the-century streetscapes have been transformed into a winter wonderland.
Florentine Opera Holiday Concert
Monday, December 8, 2025
1 p.m.
The Florentine Opera's Baumgartner Studio Artists return to MPM to perform Christmas hymns and classic holiday songs in front of the Puelicher Butterfly Vivarium (First Floor).
Old Milwaukee Mixer
Thursday, December 11, 2025
7-9:30 p.m.
Enjoy an after-hours holiday mixer set in the nostalgic glow of the Streets of Old Milwaukee and European Village exhibits. Celebrate the season with small bites, drink pairings, and old-world charm.
Sustainer+ member presale: November 3 at 10 a.m.
Public sale starts: November 7 at 10 a.m.
European Village Alive!
Saturday, December 13, 2025
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Explore the sights and sounds of the season as the European Village exhibit “comes to life.” MPM docent interpreters in period attire will transport you to holiday celebrations of the past. Plus, enjoy a special performance by the Crystal Lake Central High School Madrigal Singers.
Cocoa and Candy Canes with Santa
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Noon-2 p.m.
Get your photo taken with Santa at MPM! While you wait, enjoy hot cocoa, candy canes, and holiday-themed arts and crafts.
Reservations open Wednesday, November 12 at 10 a.m.
Winter Break
December 22, December 29-January 2
10 a.m. - Noon; 1 - 3 p.m.
Join MPM Educators as we highlight some of our favorite frozen topics during winter break! Feel the furs that cover Arctic animals, discover how to tell apart horns, tusks, and antlers, and explore the differences between the mammoths and mastodons that both called ancient Wisconsin home.
Mystery at MPM: Family Edition
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Join us for a family version of our after-hours mystery caper! Solve a series of clues that will take you around all three exhibit floors, searching for objects that you have likely passed by without noticing. Recommended for children age 6 and up.
Docent Tours
Saturdays
1 p.m.
Explore the hidden wonders of our exhibits with a half-hour docent tour every Saturday. Topics rotate and are announced day-of at the Museum. First come, first served.
Kohl's Thank You Thursdays
First Thursday of every month
All visitors (excluding groups) receive FREE admission to MPM's exhibits on the first Thursday of every month thanks to generous support from Kohl's Cares.
Planetarium
Now Showing at the Daniel M. Soref Theater and Planetarium
Check out the Planetarium programs and giant films playing daily.
November 2, 2025 to January 22, 2026
| 10:30 a.m. | Wisconsin Stargazing |
| 11:10 a.m. | Serengeti: Journey to the Heart of Africa |
| 12:10 p.m. | The First Stargazers |
| 12:50 p.m. | Call of the Dolphins |
| 1:50 p.m. | Wisconsin Stargazing |
| 2:30 p.m. | Serengeti: Journey to the Heart of Africa |
| 3:30 p.m. | The First Stargazers |
| 4:10 p.m. | Call of the Dolphins |
Ongoing Programs and Initiatives
Science on Tap
Grab a brew (or root-brew!) and meet us at the Museum or online to listen to a lecture from some of the best minds in natural and cultural sciences. Lectures are scheduled every couple of months.
Summer Connections
MPM's annual summer initiative provides free, educational programming and access to the Museum for K-8 students throughout Milwaukee in coordination with community partners.
Wisconsin Statewide Community Science Project
This community-based initiative seeks to make science accessible to a broader audience throughout Wisconsin, even nationally, so the public can feel trust towards science by participating directly in it. The data is then used for future research.
MPM Book Club
A volunteer-led monthly program that invites interested adults to join lively monthly discussions about nonfiction books of a scientific nature that relate to Museum exhibits, research, or programs.
360 Virtual Exhibit Tours
Experts at MPM
Native American Heritage
Black History Month
Hispanic Heritage Month
AANHPI Heritage Month
LGBTQ+ History Month