The museum's collection was donated by Dr. Eckhart Grohmann, a Milwaukee businessman and MSOE regent.
The rooftop garden features a series of bronze sculptures titled 'The Man at Work' depicting various trades.
The building was originally a 19th-century structure known as the Krema Building, serving various commercial purposes before its museum conversion.
The collection is heavily focused on European industrial art, providing a unique perspective not often found in North American museums.
The Grohmann Museum, located at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, houses the Man at Work collection, which is the world's most comprehensive art collection dedicated to the evolution of human industry. The collection includes over 1,700 paintings and sculptures dating from 1580 to the present. Spanning three floors, the galleries explore the development of agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and commerce. The building itself is a historic structure that was meticulously renovated to include a glass-enclosed staircase and a rooftop sculpture garden. It serves as a visual bridge between the history of labor and the academic environment of the surrounding engineering campus.
The rooftop sculpture garden with the bronze industrial statues framing the city skyline.
Do not miss the rooftop sculpture garden, which offers elevated views of downtown Milwaukee.
Check the museum's rotating gallery spaces on the third floor, as they often feature temporary exhibitions related to engineering or history.
Do not skip the informational plaques, as they provide necessary historical context for the evolution of the industrial tools depicted in the art.
Closed on major holidays and periodically between exhibition installations.
Business casual; avoid loud conversations as the galleries are designed for quiet contemplation.
