Updated in September 2026, this Pabst Mansion guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Pabst Mansion is a Gilded Age mansion in downtown Milwaukee, built in 1892 for beer baron Captain Frederick Pabst. Standard guided and self-guided tours now cost $19 for an adult, well above the roughly $12 to $15 that several older guides still quote. This guide was updated in September 2026: check-in has moved to a new Visitor Center and Gift Shop in the neighbouring Marq building rather than the mansion itself.
Quick facts about the Pabst Mansion
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 2000 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233 |
| Opening hours | Sunday–Thursday 10am–4pm; Friday–Saturday 10am–5pm |
| Adult admission (guided or self-guided) | $19 |
| Under 6 | Free |
| Check-in location | Visitor Center & Gift Shop, The Marq building, next to the mansion |
| Nearest public transit | MCTS bus routes 14 and 30 |
| Typical visit duration | 1 to 1.5 hours |
Opening hours at the Pabst Mansion
The Pabst Mansion opens Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 4pm, and stays open later on Friday and Saturday, from 10am to 5pm. Tours run on the hour, and the mansion recommends arriving at least 10 minutes early to check in. Restoration work is currently underway on the mansion’s front porch, though the mansion says this does not affect the interior or the tour experience.
Ticket prices for the Pabst Mansion
| Tour type | Adult price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Guided Tour | $19 | 60-minute docent-led tour of all three floors |
| Self-Guided Tour | $19 | Explore at your own pace with a guide packet, available in five languages |
| Sunday Mimosa Tour | $24 | A guided tour with a mimosa included |
| Blue Ribbon Happy Hour Tour | $24 | Adults-only tour themed around the Pabst brewing story |
Discounted rates apply for children, students, seniors and military, though exact figures can shift by season, so check the current rate when booking. Under-6s enter free on every tour type.
How to get to the Pabst Mansion
By car: the mansion is on West Wisconsin Avenue, just west of downtown Milwaukee near Marquette University.
By bus: Milwaukee County Transit System routes 14 and 30 both stop close to the mansion.
On foot: it’s a walkable 15 to 20 minutes from downtown Milwaukee along Wisconsin Avenue.
Parking at the Pabst Mansion
Limited parking is available directly at the mansion (2000 West Wisconsin Avenue) and in a lot across the street at 2023 West Wisconsin Avenue.
How long to spend at the Pabst Mansion
Most visitors need one to one and a half hours for the Classic Guided or Self-Guided Tour. The seasonal Behind-the-Scenes Tour runs closer to two hours, since it covers the basement through the attic.
Accessibility at the Pabst Mansion
This historic house museum‘s tour ticketing describes optional elevator access for guests with mobility needs, alongside the standard route through the historic building’s three floors. Since this is a preserved 1892 home rather than a purpose-built museum, some original stairways and doorways are narrow, so visitors with specific mobility requirements should contact the mansion in advance to arrange the best route.
What to see inside the Pabst Mansion
The men’s and ladies’ parlors: the original first-floor rooms are on either side of the entrance, one panelled in dark mahogany and the other finished in white enamel.
The Pavilion: originally built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where the Pabst company’s beer won a gold medal, the ornate pavilion was later moved to the mansion grounds.
The Collections: nearly 5,000 decorative and fine art objects fill the home, including more than 200 paintings from the Pabst family’s own 19th-century art collection.
The Archives: founded in 1994, the mansion’s archive holds photographs, ephemera and records related to the Pabst family and Pabst Brewing Company, viewable by appointment.
Seasonal specialty tours: rotating themed tours cover topics from the women of the Pabst household to Oktoberfest and candlelit “Illuminating the Dark” evenings each October.
Practical visitor tips for the Pabst Mansion
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Check in at the Marq building | Admission now starts at the Visitor Center & Gift Shop next door, not the mansion’s front door. |
| Arrive 10 minutes early | Tours run on the hour and start promptly. |
| Book online ahead of busy weekends | Tickets are sold first-come, first-served, and Saturdays can sell out. |
| Try a specialty tour | The Blue Ribbon Happy Hour and Sunday Mimosa tours add a themed twist for adults. |
| Ask about elevator access | Mention any mobility needs when booking so staff can plan your route. |
Frequently asked questions about the Pabst Mansion
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the Pabst Mansion’s hours? | Sunday–Thursday 10am–4pm; Friday–Saturday 10am–5pm. |
| How much does a ticket cost? | Standard guided and self-guided tours cost $19 for an adult, with discounts for children, students, seniors and military. |
| Where do I check in? | At the new Visitor Center & Gift Shop in The Marq building, next to the mansion. |
| How long is the tour? | The Classic Guided Tour runs about 60 minutes; the Self-Guided Tour takes about as long at your own pace. |
| Is the mansion wheelchair accessible? | Elevator access is available for guests with mobility needs; contact the mansion ahead of your visit to arrange it. |
Things to do near the Pabst Mansion
The Mitchell Park Domes, Milwaukee’s iconic horticultural conservatory, are a short drive south with tropical, desert and show gardens under three glass domes.
The Milwaukee Public Museum, currently in its long-running historic building, is scheduled to close permanently in January 2027 before reopening elsewhere.
Marquette University’s campus borders the mansion and makes for a pleasant walk past historic academic buildings.
A tour of the Miller Brewing Company (MillerCoors) offers a contrasting look at Milwaukee’s other major brewing legacy, a short drive from the mansion.
Wisconsin Avenue and the Grand Avenue corridor downtown provide shops, restaurants and easy access back into central Milwaukee.
Alternative Gilded Age mansions and historic homes
The Charles Allis Art Museum, in Milwaukee itself, is a Tudor-style mansion turned art museum, filled with the original owner’s European and Asian art collection.
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, also in Milwaukee, occupies an Italianate lakeside villa and focuses on decorative arts and gardens.
Wingspread, in Racine, is a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Prairie-style house built for the Johnson family, about 35 minutes from Milwaukee.
The Hearthstone Historic House Museum, in Appleton, was the first home in the world lit by a hydroelectric plant, roughly 90 minutes north of Milwaukee.
