Financial Need | Campaign Budget

We expect tax credits and support from government grants will help to offset this budget by approximately 40%.

Together, we will preserve the Pabst Mansion for future generations. Pabst Mansion stands as a silent witness to Milwaukee’s remarkable growth during the Gilded Age, a testament to the dreams and ambitions that shaped our city. Knowing our history is critical to understanding the present and this historical gem bridges the “Pabst,” present, and future. As the most toured historic site in Milwaukee, Pabst Mansion weaves the past into the present like no other place can.

A true brick-and-mortar project, this campaign will safeguard the home’s integrity by repairing and preserving the bricks, mortar, and terra cotta that envelope the landmark. The project ensures the Mansion will be preserved for future generations. Historic preservation is fragile. Once a place and what it represents is gone, it can never truly return and what it holds becomes a memory to be lost over the years.

Caring for this historic treasure is no small task. Pabst Mansion’s iconic Ferry & Clas designed Flemish Renaissance Revival exterior, which stands proudly on Wisconsin Avenue, is comprised of terra cotta, brick, and several ornamental pieces. Significant work is needed to ensure future generations can enjoy the home’s grandeur.

Wisconsin’s freeze-thaw cycle puts immense stress on the mortar and masonry, leading to deterioration over time. Although much of the restoration needed may not be apparent to the naked eye, the threat to the building is prescient and requires immediate intervention. The building’s envelope is under serious distress, leading to water infiltration in many areas throughout the Mansion, presenting significant risk to the lovingly restored interior.

Failure to do this project now puts the Mansion’s future in peril. Time takes its toll, and the Mansion has weathered 132 years of Wisconsin’s freeze-thaw cycle. The proposed project represents once-in-a-generation expenses. Once complete, a project of this scale will not be needed for another 50-70 years. The organization finds itself at a critical point in time. This project is vital to protecting our fine and decorative art collection and the historic Mansion itself, our largest artifact.