Bay View History Tour Milwaukee: Labor & Civil Rights

Three centuries of Milwaukee shaped in one neighborhood, told by someone who studies them

A guided walking tour of Bay View, Milwaukee led by an emeritus history professor covering the 1886 Bay View Massacre, Italian immigrant anarchists during World War I, and Father James Groppi's role in the 1960s civil rights movement. The tour visits four historic sites and a James Beard Award-winning Serbian restaurant, with Italian delicacies, dinner, and drinks included. 48-hour notice required for vegetarian and vegan meals.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Bay View's historic events and cuisine

• Meet at historical marker for Bay View Massacre history
• Learn about Italian anarchists' WWI clashes
• Visit Italian grocery store and sample delicacies
• Hear about Civil Rights movement at former union hall
• Enjoy Serbian dinner at award-winning restaurant
• End with cocktail or ice cream drink at lounge

The experience

What makes this tour different is who's leading it: an emeritus history professor who spent a career studying the exact moments that shaped Bay View and Milwaukee itself. The walk covers four hours across a tightly packed neighborhood, moving between the sites where three separate upheavals happened. You start at the historical marker where Polish immigrant workers fought for the 8-hour workday in 1886, a struggle that ended in the Bay View Massacre. From there the guide takes you to the spot where Italian anarchists clashed with authorities during World War I, an event that reverberated across the nation. The third stop is Groppi's Food Market, the Italian grocery where Father James Groppi was born and raised before he became one of Milwaukee's most visible civil rights leaders in the 1960s.

The tour does not move fast or cover distance. It moves through time, and the stops are chosen to let you stand where the history happened. At Groppi's, the guide buys Italian delicacies that you'll snack on at the next location, a former union hall where you learn about the open housing movement Groppi led in 1967 and 1968. Then the day ends with dinner at Three Brothers, a James Beard Award-winning Serbian restaurant in a building that was originally a Schiltz tied house before the Radicevic family, Serbian immigrants, bought it in 1956. The meal (a burek appetizer and one drink) is included. The tour closes with a cocktail or ice cream drink at At Random, a mid-century lounge a few blocks away.

The guide is a live person, not a recording, and the tour runs in English. Vegetarian and vegan meals can be arranged with 48 hours' notice. The restaurant accepts cash or checks only, so plan accordingly if you want to order additional drinks there.

What’s included

• A live history professor guide in English.
• Italian delicacies from Groppi's Food Market.
• a full Serbian dinner at Three Brothers with burek appetizer and one drink.
• a cocktail or ice cream drink at At Random lounge.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday and FridayDeparts at 15:00

Book up to2d before

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Professor T's Historic Tours

Is this one for you?This tour suits anyone who wants to understand Milwaukee's actual history rather than just see the sights. The professor-led format means you're learning from someone who studies these events, not following a script. The fixed route and pacing work for mixed fitness levels since the walk is gentle and built around stops where you sit and eat.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Bay View Massacre the tour talks about?

The Bay View Massacre was a deadly confrontation in 1886 when Polish immigrant workers in Milwaukee were fighting for the 8-hour workday. The tour begins at the historical marker where this struggle took place and explains how it ended tragically, shaping both the neighborhood and the nation's labor movement.

Does the tour include food, or do I need to pay for meals separately?

Food and drinks are included in the tour price. You'll snack on Italian delicacies from Groppi's Food Market during the tour, then sit down for a full Serbian dinner at Three Brothers with a buerk appetizer and one drink included. The tour ends with a cocktail or ice cream drink at At Random. Additional drinks at the restaurant can be purchased separately, but the restaurant accepts cash or checks only.

How much walking is involved, and is this tour suitable for someone who isn't very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It covers a gentle walk through the Bay View neighborhood over four to five hours, with stops at historic sites and restaurants where you'll spend time learning and eating rather than moving continuously.

Who was Father James Groppi, and what does the tour explain about his connection to Bay View?

Father James Groppi was born and raised in Groppi's Food Market, a historic Italian grocery in Bay View where his family worked. He went on to become one of the main leaders of Milwaukee's civil rights movement in the 1960s, particularly the open housing movement of 1967 and 1968. The tour visits the market and explains his early life there, then takes you to a former union hall where you learn about the civil rights work he led.

Can I request vegetarian or vegan meals for the dinner?

Yes, vegetarian and vegan meals can be arranged, but you need to request them at least 48 hours before the tour.