Treat yourself to a day of culture and entertainment at these popular Milwaukee area museums. There is something here for everyone, from science to technology, Milwaukee history to decades worth of art. There is even a little Harley-Davidson thrown into the mix because after all, we are in Wisconsin! Bring the family to these museums, or go alone or with a friend. However you choose to explore Milwaukee, make sure these destinations are on your list!

One of the most original museums in Milwaukee, WI, Discovery World brings together innovation, science, technology and the environment through interactive exhibits, exploration and learning. Some of the interesting exhibits you can explore include Les Paul’s House of Sound, a tribute to modern music, the Reiman Aquarium, a chance to interact with stingrays, a bamboo shark, slipper lobster, sea urchins, and sturgeons, the ever-changing Johnson Controls TechnoJungle where you will watch the next great technology invention come to life, the Briggs & Stratton Milwaukee Muscle, a place to practice landing an airplane simulator, the Challenge, a life size re-creation of the 1852 schooner built especially for the Great Lakes, and last, but certainly not least, see the magnificent 137-foot schooner, Wisconsin's Flagship the S/V Denis Sullivan and help set the sails, coil the lines, steer the ship, or relax on deck and enjoy sightseeing!

If being alone on the open road is more your style, then you will love the heart-thumping adventure the Harley-Davidson Museum brings! Much more than a nostalgia trip for motorcycle enthusiasts, the Museum offers a glimpse of American history and culture like you've never seen it before. At the Harley-Davidson Museum you can: walk through exhibits that showcase the history and culture of Harley-Davidson, look at over 450 motorcycles and thousands of Harley-Davidson artifacts, examine the industrial architecture both inside and outside the Museum's three buildings and much more!

Thinking of visiting a more traditional museum? Then plan a trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum. The MAM’s collection includes nearly 25,000 works from antiquity to the present, encompassing painting, drawing, sculpture, decorative arts, prints, video art and installations, and textiles. The Museum’s collections of American decorative arts, German Expressionist prints and paintings, folk and Haitian art, and American art after 1960 are among the nation’s finest. The 341,000-square-foot Museum includes the War Memorial Center (1957) designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, the Kahler Building (1975) by David Kahler, and the Quadracci Pavilion (2001) created by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Best of all, Located on the shore of Lake Michigan in downtown Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Art Museum is a marvel both inside and out. Spend an hour or the day—there is always something new to discover.

Milwaukee is also home to one of the largest museums in the United States—the Milwaukee Public Museum. This is a museum of human and natural history that houses over 6 million specimens. In one day you can tour the Museum's 150,000 square feet of exhibit space to visit Africa, Asia, Europe, the Arctic, South and Middle America, the Pacific Islands and a Costa Rican Rainforest. Or, take a giant leap back more than 65 million years to The Third Planet, see the world's largest-known dinosaur skull and a life-sized replica of Tyrannosaurus rex! Whatever you choose to see, you will walk away with a deeper understanding of where humanity has been and how that affects our current world today.

More museums of note include the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, featuring fine and decorative arts dating from the 15th through the 18th centuries, wrought-iron masterpieces by Cyril Colnik, the Renaissance Garden, and changing exhibitions and the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center, Wisconsin’s most visible memorial to all those who have served in the U.S. Armed Services. The Veterans Gallery features military displays, exhibits and commemorative items that recognize the contributions of many, in service to all. Finally, the Milwaukee County Historical Society is a fascinating museum that collects, preserves and makes available materials relating to the history of the Milwaukee community. Through a broad range of activities, the Historical Society promotes a greater appreciation of Milwaukee County’s heritage by showcasing approximately 50,000 artifacts that connect to Milwaukee and Milwaukee County history.

No matter what museum you choose, you are bound to have a great time experiencing the great cultural treasures of Milwaukee. If you are looking for more information on these museums, or other places to explore in Milwaukee, make sure to visit our Milwaukee Ettractions page. With tips and tricks on where to stay, play, relax and eat in Milwaukee, Ettractions is your stop for the best valuable visitor information online!