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Bubbler Talk

WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR

What's got you scratching your head about the Milwaukee area? WUWM investigates your questions.

WUWM

What's got you scratching your head about the Milwaukee area? WUWM investigates your questions.

WUWM
16hr 44min
Thumbnail for "Who’s behind ‘The Unsung Hero,’ the 6-story mural in Milwaukee’s Third Ward?".
July 18, 20253min 41sec3.56 MB
Thumbnail for "How a 1959 military plane crash is connected to Milwaukee’s annual Air and Water Show".
July 25, 20254min 25sec4.26 MB
Thumbnail for "Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee is the result of 'healing' after a military past".
July 11, 20254min 14sec4.09 MB
Thumbnail for "The history of Milwaukee's Silver City & National Park neighborhoods".
July 3, 20254min 24sec4.25 MB
Thumbnail for "Where are the victims of the Bay View Massacre buried?".
June 27, 20254min 24sec6.37 MB
Thumbnail for "Where did the card game Sheepshead come from? Inside the cherished Wisconsin pastime".
June 20, 20254min 17sec6.19 MB
Thumbnail for "How Enderis Park neighborhood's namesake, Dorothy Enderis, shaped Milwaukee Recreation".
June 13, 20253min 59sec3.88 MB
Thumbnail for "The Native history behind the unmarked pedestrian bridge in Milwaukee's McKinley Park".
June 6, 202510min 45sec15.5 MB
Thumbnail for "What was Milwaukee's most devastating fire?".
Earlier this year, wildfires ravaged Los Angeles for almost a month. Destroying…
April 25, 20254min 25sec4.26 MB
Thumbnail for "Signs around Milwaukee promise to buy your home for cash. What happens if you sell?".
On this week's episode of "Bubbler Talk," we answer a question about what…
April 18, 20254min 10sec4.25 MB
Thumbnail for "Why are there so many shipwrecks in Lake Michigan?".
"Bubbler Talk" listeners Amy Gajewski and Victor Muñoz are certified scuba…
April 17, 20254min 28sec10.75 MB
Thumbnail for "What happens when an animal at the Milwaukee County Zoo dies?".
Every day, thousands of people visit the Milwaukee County Zoo to see the…
April 11, 20254min 26sec4.29 MB
Thumbnail for "What does the rooster represent at the Milwaukee Public Market?".
This "Bubbler Talk" takes us to the Milwaukee Public Market. Or rather, you…
April 4, 20254min 30sec6.52 MB
Thumbnail for "The search for the mystery artist behind the wooden birds on the Oak Leaf Trail".
Here’s a mystery for you: Who is leaving colorful, wood-carved birds in…
March 21, 20254min 33sec8.76 MB
Thumbnail for "The geological secrets of Estabrook Park".
Bubbler Talk listener, Sophia Heyn discovered the geological history of…
March 14, 20254min 22sec6.32 MB
Thumbnail for "Who uses Milwaukee's downtown skywalks?".
Walking downtown on a cold day, a "Bubbler Talk" listener wondered whether they…
March 6, 20254min 29sec6.49 MB
Thumbnail for "Bubbler Talk: Taking a Milwaukee County bus to landmarks — where do you want to ride next?".
A WUWM listener's question about taking MCTS to the Mitchell Park Domes comes…
January 3, 20254min 55sec7.1 MB
Thumbnail for "The Morris Pratt Institute has been a source of Spiritualist education for more than a century".
The Morris Pratt Institute, located in Wauwatosa, offers education in…
December 20, 20244min 20sec4.18 MB
Thumbnail for "Is it possible to rank custard stands?".
The story of Milwaukee custard is a story of FDA regulations, nostalgia and…
December 13, 20244min 30sec6.49 MB
Thumbnail for "What's going on at Milwaukee's Veterans Park lagoon?".
Recently a large section of trees was removed along Milwaukee's lakefront at…
December 6, 20243min 59sec5.76 MB
Thumbnail for "Holiday hibernation: What happened to the Grand Avenue Mall's robotic bear orchestra?".
For about 20 years, the Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra performed at the…
November 30, 20244min 29sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "The history of Milwaukee's Silver City & National Park neighborhoods".
For Bubbler Talk, we explore the history of Silver City, National Park and the…
November 22, 20244min 41sec6.77 MB
Thumbnail for "Is Milwaukee a community of haters?".
For Bubbler Talk, we look into a question posed by a Milwaukee native: are we a…
November 15, 202414min 15sec20.55 MB
Thumbnail for "What happened to the Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear in Milwaukee?".
Bubbler Talk question asker Susan Armour Seidman wants to know: What happened…
June 21, 20244min 30sec10.8 MB
Thumbnail for "A Fox Point house has a twin in Fort Atkinson — how did that happen?".
Nearly 120 years ago, Theodore Kronshage — who would become Fox Point's first…
June 7, 20244min 14sec6.12 MB
Thumbnail for "Beauty, green space & stormwater management: A look at Milwaukee's bioswales".
With the arrival of spring, plants are blooming — in our homes, our parks, and…
May 31, 20244min 30sec6.49 MB
Thumbnail for "The story behind the lone high-rise in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood".
One Bay View building is not like the others. Bay View Terrace is 25-story…
May 24, 20244min 30sec6.5 MB
Thumbnail for "Deciphering the Green Flow, the key to Brady Street's past".
The pictures that line Brady Street are like hieroglyphics, telling the story…
May 17, 20243min 49sec5.52 MB
Thumbnail for "Bubbler Talk: The Amtrak train Borealis is coming to the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul corridor".
After years of advocacy by passenger rail groups, the inaugural Amtrak Borealis…
May 10, 20244min 59sec7.2 MB
Thumbnail for "What happens when an animal at the Milwaukee County Zoo dies?".
Every day, thousands of people visit the Milwaukee County Zoo to see the…
May 6, 20244min 30sec8.66 MB
Thumbnail for "How Enderis Park neighborhood's namesake, Dorothy Enderis, shaped Milwaukee Recreation".
Dorothy Enderis was the second, and arguably most influential, leader of the…
December 1, 202311min 55sec17.16 MB
Thumbnail for "Meet Ringo: The star, artist and friend of Bradford Beach".
Meet a Milwaukee character you've likely seen hanging out at Bradford Beach.
November 17, 20234min 30sec8.66 MB
Thumbnail for "The story of an intriguing Sherman Park home begins with 1933 award-winning design".
The sleek, striking, boxy home's contemporary style stands out in the sea of…
November 10, 20234min 29sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "The journey of the ancestral pole that once stood outside of the Milwaukee Public Museum".
Bubbler Talk question asker Dan Currier of Whitewater wants to know about a…
November 3, 20235min 7sec7.39 MB
Thumbnail for "There's a radio haunting this century-old Milwaukee area bar".
A Bubbler Talk listener, history nerd and radio reporter walk into a Wisconsin…
October 27, 20237min 55sec11.4 MB
Thumbnail for "Look! Under the railroad tracks, there's a model railroad club in Milwaukee".
Club members tell WUWM about model trains and memories.
October 20, 20234min 41sec6.75 MB
Thumbnail for "'Off-key, off-tempo': A former Milwaukee Symphony conductor battles the foghorns".
In 1974, former Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra conductor Kenneth Schermerhorn…
October 13, 20235min 30sec7.94 MB
Thumbnail for "Holiday hibernation: What happened to the Grand Avenue Mall's robotic bear orchestra?".
For about 20 years, the Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra performed at the…
October 9, 20234min 29sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "How to research historic properties in Milwaukee".
Have you ever wanted to learn more about a historic home or building in…
August 4, 20236min8.65 MB
Thumbnail for "The history of comic book shops in Milwaukee".
Bubbler Talk question asker Conor Byrne was curious about the history of comic…
July 28, 20234min 5sec9.83 MB
Thumbnail for "The past and future of Lake Michigan’s colors".
A Bubbler Talk listener asks how Lake Michigan often has several shades of blue…
July 21, 20235min 37sec8.09 MB
Thumbnail for "Why yes, there is passenger rail in Milwaukee and more is coming — maybe a lot more".
Amtrak's Hiawatha and Empire Builder will soon be joined by the TCMC and maybe,…
July 14, 20234min 53sec7.03 MB
Thumbnail for "What happened to Milwaukee's lakefront foghorn?".
Bubbler Talk question asker Mark Behar has lived on Milwaukee's east side since…
June 30, 20234min 30sec6.49 MB
Thumbnail for "Evolution of Historic Mitchell Street: Milwaukee shopping hub to diverse neighborhood".
One of Milwaukee’s culturally-rich neighborhoods is Historic Mitchell Street on…
June 23, 20236min 16sec9.04 MB
Thumbnail for "The story of the bridge that appears to lead to nowhere along the Milwaukee River".
Riverwest resident Lindsey Goding came upon a mystery bridge above the…
June 15, 20234min 49sec6.94 MB
Thumbnail for "Where did the Riverwest 'Please Be Civil' neon sign go?".
Lauren Keene reached out to Bubbler Talk wanting to know what happened to the…
June 9, 20234min 40sec6.74 MB
Thumbnail for "The history of MSOE's Grohmann Museum & the bronze statues that turn".
This week’s Bubbler Talk goes to the Grohmann Museum on the Milwaukee School of…
March 31, 20234min 30sec6.51 MB
Thumbnail for "Live from Milwaukee! 5 albums recorded in the Cream City".
Zack Biernat reached out to Bubbler Talk wanting to know if any live albums…
March 24, 20234min 59sec7.22 MB
Thumbnail for "There's a strange set of numbers and months inlaid in front of the Domes. What is it?".
In front of the Domes in Milwaukee, there's a set of numbers curving around a…
March 17, 20234min 30sec6.49 MB
Thumbnail for "The saga of Milwaukee's water tower dragon".
It was like something out of a fairy tale. One day in the fall of 1985, a green…
March 9, 20235min 1sec7.23 MB
Thumbnail for "Who were Milwaukee's first engineers, architects?".
Lifelong Milwaukeean and Bubbler Talk listener Reginald Jones wondered who…
March 3, 20235min 45sec8.28 MB
Thumbnail for "The history behind some of Milwaukee-area's lesser-known cemeteries".
Several Bubbler Talk listeners are curious about cemeteries in their…
March 1, 20234min 28sec10.75 MB
Thumbnail for "Kilbourn Reservoir Park was once a key piece of Milwaukee’s drinking water system".
Kilbourn Reservoir Park was once the main storage for Milwaukee's drinking…
February 17, 20234min 29sec6.47 MB
Thumbnail for "What’s the deal with leaping fish in the Milwaukee River?".
A Bubbler Talk question-asker wondered what kinds of fish are seen leaping in…
February 10, 20235min 37sec8.11 MB
Thumbnail for "How did Jeffrey Dahmer harm Milwaukee's gay community?".
A Bubbler Talk listener wanted to know how much harm Jeffrey Dahmer’s crimes…
September 30, 20224min 27sec6.43 MB
Thumbnail for "Exploring the history of Milwaukee's 'Hooverville'".
Bubbler Talk digs into a question about how the Great Depression impacted…
September 23, 20223min 55sec5.66 MB
Thumbnail for "The Jones-Hill House is part of the fabric of Milwaukee's Black culture".
A Bubbler Talk question asker was curious about Black historical sites in…
September 16, 20224min 26sec6.39 MB
Thumbnail for "A deeper look at Milwaukee's south side 'Mural Of Peace'".
If you’ve driven northbound on Interstate 43 toward Milwaukee’s downtown,…
September 9, 20224min 17sec6.17 MB
Thumbnail for "The story behind Fox Point's name and historical street signs".
Bubbler Talk question asker Michelle Mullen started teaching in Fox Point,…
August 26, 20223min 39sec8.78 MB
Thumbnail for "Circulating the county: Who's behind the magic of Milwaukee's interlibrary loans?".
Milwaukeeans are able to check out books from 27 countywide library branches.…
August 19, 20224min 30sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "ZIP files changed the way we use computers and they started in Wisconsin".
Everyday we use ZIP files — to download apps, create documents and send vital…
August 12, 20224min 29sec6.47 MB
Thumbnail for "Ravine Road wove motorists through Milwaukee's Lake Park for over a century. When will it reopen?".
Bubbler Talk question asker Adrienne LaRosa has fond family memories of Lake…
August 5, 20225min 24sec7.8 MB
Thumbnail for "A look at Milwaukee's early Black settlers".
Who were the first known Black people to settle in Milwaukee? That’s the…
July 29, 20224min 16sec6.16 MB
Thumbnail for "Where did the lion statues outside Milwaukee's Zeidler building come from?".
When walking up to the Frank P. Zeidler Municipal Building, two lion statues…
July 22, 20224min 30sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "Milwaukee's contribution to auto manufacturing includes a century-old factory in Bay View".
Bubbler Talk takes up a listener's request to drive back in time and look into…
July 15, 20224min 51sec6.99 MB
Thumbnail for "Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee is the result of 'healing' after a military past".
A Bubbler Talk listener sent us a question asking why Wisconsin's only urban…
July 8, 20224min 30sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "The legend of the Pfister Hotel ghost".
The Pfister Hotel is one of Milwaukee’s most historic and luxurious places to…
April 25, 20225min 13sec7.52 MB
Thumbnail for "A look back at Oriental Drugs, a fountain of Milwaukee memories".
Once located on the corner of Farwell and North on Milwaukee's East Side,…
April 15, 20229min12.96 MB
Thumbnail for "Unpacking the history of Milwaukee's Eagles Club".
What was the Eagles Ballroom before it became The Rave? That’s a question we’ve…
April 8, 20223min 44sec5.4 MB
Thumbnail for "From cheese curds to custard, which signature food originated In Milwaukee?".
Butter burgers! Think Kopp's, Culver's and, of course, Solly's Grille — which…
April 1, 20223min 19sec4.81 MB
Thumbnail for "Art? Landing site for aliens? The story behind the giant metal circle at Milwaukee's Cupertino Park".
Bubbler Talk question asker Tom Roberts has been wondering about the circular,…
March 25, 20224min 30sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "Is it just me or does Wauwatosa have a lot of water towers?".
Water towers are a routine part of the scenery in Wauwatosa. Bubbler Talk…
March 18, 20224min 24sec6.34 MB
Thumbnail for "How Milwaukee's Washington Park bandshell became a temple of music".
In 1938, the heir of the Blatz Brewing Company wanted to bring his love of…
March 11, 20224min 30sec4.32 MB
Thumbnail for "Fossils to a World War II-era dog tag: Exploring the interesting finds on Lake Michigan's shore".
The waves of Lake Michigan bring in an unknown number of things onto the shore…
March 4, 20224min 30sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "The journey of the ancestral pole that once stood outside of the Milwaukee Public Museum".
Bubbler Talk question asker Dan Currier of Whitewater wants to know about a…
February 11, 20225min 7sec7.39 MB
Thumbnail for "Remembering when Marian Anderson, world-famous contralto, shared her voice with Milwaukee".
On this Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Teran Powell looks into this question: Did Marian…
February 4, 20224min 42sec6.79 MB
Thumbnail for "How Henry Hempsted set the tempo for Milwaukee's first music store".
On this week’s Bubbler Talk, question asker Craig Steitz wanted to know about…
December 3, 20214min 30sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "Next time you're at Milwaukee's airport, look down at the intricate mosaics at your feet".
Imagine you’re rushing to catch a flight at Milwaukee County's General Mitchell…
November 26, 20214min 24sec6.34 MB
Thumbnail for "How WPA projects expanded the Milwaukee County Parks System".
For this week's Bubbler Talk, we look at how the Works Progress Administration…
November 5, 20214min 30sec4.32 MB
Thumbnail for "A Celebration Of Milwaukee's Home Basement Bars".
A WUWM listener, Erin Christie, enjoys the company of friends at her basement…
October 29, 20213min 58sec5.72 MB
Thumbnail for "Inflatable reindeer provide comfort and humor at Milwaukee COVID testing and vaccination sites".
For this week’s Bubbler Talk, listener Connor Bowman asked us — “What’s the…
October 22, 20213min 44sec5.39 MB
Thumbnail for "Oconomowoc, Nagawicka, Okauchee: unpacking Wisconsin's Native place names".
When you look at a map of Wisconsin, it’s covered in names that remind us of…
October 8, 20214min 24sec2.65 MB
Thumbnail for "The story behind the mysterious brick pillars at Shepard Avenue & Locust Street on Milwaukee's east side".
At the corner of North Shepard Avenue and East Locust Street, there are…
October 1, 20214min 28sec23.67 MB
Thumbnail for "How Animals Get To The Milwaukee County Zoo".
People have a lot of questions when they come to the Milwaukee County Zoo. But…
September 17, 20214min 29sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "Former Milwaukee Braves And A Local Historian Look Back At Unusual 1957 World Series Celebration".
With the help of former Milwaukee Braves and a local historian, we look back at…
September 17, 20215min 5sec7.32 MB
Thumbnail for "Getting Reitman and Mueller on an episode of 'Cheers' was actually pretty easy".
On May 4, 1989, two Milwaukee celebrities — Bob Reitman and Gene Mueller, hosts…
July 30, 20214min 30sec6.49 MB
Thumbnail for "Strange Plaque Piques Interest On North Farwell In Milwaukee".
Eileen Hosmanek was walking her dogs with her daughter on Milwaukee's Lower…
July 23, 20213min 16sec4.71 MB
Thumbnail for "The story of the bridge that appears to lead to nowhere along the Milwaukee River".
Riverwest resident Lindsey Goding came upon a mystery bridge above the…
July 16, 20214min 49sec6.94 MB
Thumbnail for "Statue, Mural & Today's Young Milwaukee Players Honor Baseball Great Hank Aaron".
Baseball great Hank Aaron passed away this year and will be honored at the…
July 9, 20215min 3sec7.28 MB
Thumbnail for "How Craft Spirits Gained A Foothold In Brew City".
Milwaukee is known as a city of breweries. But Bubbler Talk question asker Tom…
June 25, 20214min 30sec6.49 MB
Thumbnail for "Why Is Cheese, Sausage, Mushroom & Onion Pizza So Popular In Milwaukee?".
For this week's Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Audrey Nowakowski looks into why…
June 18, 20214min 30sec6.49 MB
Thumbnail for "As Up & Under Pub Replacement Nears, A Check-In On Milwaukee's Brady Street".
On this week’s Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson gives an update on the…
June 11, 20214min 18sec6.19 MB
Thumbnail for "Luna's Texas Restaurant: The Story Of One Of Milwaukee's Longtime Mexican Restaurants".
The near south side of Milwaukee has long been home to the city’s Mexican…
June 4, 20214min 28sec6.45 MB
Thumbnail for "An Ode To Craftsmanship: Stained Glass Windows In Milwaukee Bungalows".
On this Bubbler Talk, we learn about the history behind the stained glass…
May 28, 20214min 30sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "'Billie the Brownie' Holiday Radio Show Still Holds A Sweet Spot For Milwaukeeans".
For more than 20 years, families gathered around their radios during the…
May 21, 20214min 30sec6.5 MB
Thumbnail for "Behind The Screens: Who Makes Wisconsin's Witty Traffic Signs?".
When you’re driving to work, there’s nothing worse than seeing a traffic sign…
May 14, 20214min 18sec6.21 MB
Thumbnail for "The Story Behind The Mahatma Gandhi Statue Outside The Milwaukee County Courthouse".
A listener recently discovered a piece of cultural and legal history on a break…
May 7, 20214min 30sec6.49 MB
Thumbnail for "The History Of Milwaukee's South Side Churches".
The south side of Milwaukee is known for having a lot of churches. In fact,…
April 9, 20213min 9sec4.56 MB
Thumbnail for "For Milwaukee's Latino Community, There Are No Historically Designated Landmarks".
Bubbler Talk inquirer Eloisa Gomez wanted to know: "In the Latino community,…
April 2, 20214min 8sec2.49 MB
Thumbnail for "How Milwaukee Celebrated The 1971 Bucks' Championship Without A Parade".
The 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks were one of the greatest NBA teams of their era,…
March 26, 20214min 25sec6.39 MB
Thumbnail for "The Mystery Behind Walker's Point Giant Metal Boiler".
What is the rusted metal object sitting across from the Lindsay Bros. Building…
March 19, 20214min 28sec6.45 MB
Thumbnail for "Why Wisconsinites Put Soda In Their Old Fashioneds".
This week’s Bubbler Talk clears up some muddled history of one of our favorite…
January 29, 20214min 30sec6.51 MB
Thumbnail for "YouTube Court Streaming Leads To Questions About Privacy".
Over the past four months, lots of systems in Wisconsin have had to adapt due…
July 10, 20204min 12sec6.07 MB
Thumbnail for "The Bath Tiles Of Milwaukee's History".
A listener wondered if it was true that there were underground baths in…
February 28, 20204min3.89 MB
Thumbnail for "What Remains Of Waukesha's Springs Era".
On Tuesday night, the Waukesha Common Council may decide whether to OK tearing…
February 10, 20206min 29sec9.35 MB
Thumbnail for "Milwaukee's Lost Town Of Lake".
Have you ever noticed a place name on your Google Maps or GPS, and thought, "I…
January 17, 20204min 33sec4.38 MB
Thumbnail for "Whatever Happened To West Allis Western Days?".
Every summer on Father’s Day weekend, a huge festival used to take place in…
January 10, 20204min 29sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "How Milwaukee Got The Nickname 'Cream City'".
Wisconsin has a nickname. You've seen it on license plates: America's…
December 27, 20193min 53sec5.61 MB
Thumbnail for "Racine County's Seven Mile Road Is 7 Miles From Where, Exactly?".
There are three types of people in this world: Those who notice nothing. Those…
December 20, 20194min 50sec6.98 MB
Thumbnail for "The Story Behind Koss Headphones' 'Uniformly Witty' Billboards".
Editor's note: This piece was originally published on Feb. 16, 2018.
October 11, 20194min5.76 MB
Thumbnail for "The Legacy Of Milwaukee's Underground Comix Scene".
The 1960s and '70s were a time of great change in the United States. The…
September 27, 20195min 19sec5.14 MB
Thumbnail for "How West Allis Got Its Name".
Have you ever wondered about the stories behind the names of some buildings and…
September 20, 20194min 58sec7.18 MB
Thumbnail for "Remnants Of The Cold War, Some Milwaukee Fallout Shelters Remain".
Cold War fallout shelters are still around the Milwaukee area. You can still…
August 30, 20195min 21sec5.15 MB
Thumbnail for "Is Milwaukee's Coffee Scene Unique?".
If you take a look around Milwaukee and its surrounding communities, you may…
August 23, 20194min 59sec7.19 MB
Thumbnail for "How Did Milwaukee's Drinking Culture Start?".
For some people, it's not an evening out in Milwaukee without a cocktail, a…
August 16, 20194min 29sec6.48 MB
Thumbnail for "Where Are Milwaukee's Pigeons?".
Editor's note: This piece was originally published on April 21, 2017.
August 9, 20193min 45sec5.41 MB
Thumbnail for "Milwaukee City Hall Square: A Postcard Reveals More Than 100 Years Of History".
It might be difficult to picture City Hall in downtown Milwaukee more than 100…
August 2, 20195min 11sec7.49 MB
Thumbnail for "How Do Historic Milwaukee Buildings Get That Designation?".
Earlier this summer about a thousand Shorewood residents tried to protect a…
July 26, 20194min 4sec5.89 MB
Thumbnail for "Milwaukee 'Boat House' Has Been A Symbol Of Nonconformity For 100 Years".
On the corner of Cambridge Avenue and Hampshire Avenue on Milwaukee’s east…
July 19, 20194min 36sec4.42 MB
Thumbnail for "Motels On South 27th Street Are A Reminder Of Yesteryear".
If you’ve ever driven down South 27 Street in Franklin, Wis., you know there…
July 12, 20194min 33sec6.58 MB
Thumbnail for "One Of Milwaukee's Last Movie Palaces Is Getting New Life".
Like many cities, Milwaukee once was home to a number of "movie palaces" —…
June 7, 20194min 35sec6.62 MB
Thumbnail for "Were Visitors Really Allowed To Feed Polar Bears Marshmallows At The Milwaukee County Zoo?".
Editor's note: This piece was originally published April 6, 2018.
May 31, 20193min 58sec4.76 MB
Thumbnail for "Who Rides The Ferry Across Lake Michigan, And Why?".
Bay View resident Stacy Dent often drives over the Hoan Bridge, looks down at…
May 24, 20194min 30sec4.36 MB
Thumbnail for "Good Well Hunting: Bay View Watering Hole Last Of Its Kind".
Editor's note: This post was originally published Feb. 17, 2017.
May 3, 20193min 45sec3.6 MB
Thumbnail for "How The Orange, Sunburst Sculpture On Wisconsin Avenue Came To Be".
Whether you’re driving or walking east on Wisconsin Avenue in downtown…
April 26, 20194min 59sec7.19 MB
Thumbnail for "Milwaukee's Public Bubblers: As Common As They Used To Be?".
It's fitting that Fox Point resident Trish Mousseau reached out to Bubbler Talk…
April 19, 20194min 37sec6.67 MB
Thumbnail for "Shh, No Roaring! When A Lion Lived In The Downtown Milwaukee Library Building".
In the file of "truth is stranger than fiction," the Milwaukee downtown library…
April 12, 20194min 39sec6.73 MB
Thumbnail for "'A Rumor That Just Won't Die': Washington Highlands Was Designed To Look Like A Prussian Helmet".
The Washington Highlands neighborhood consists of 375 beautiful, large houses…
March 29, 20194min 52sec4.68 MB
Thumbnail for "Don't Worry, Milwaukee's Roverwest Dog Park Is Safe For Your Canine Pals".
The practice of designating green space, especially for dogs to romp freely,…
March 22, 20194min 31sec6.51 MB
Thumbnail for "How Did Socialist Mayors Impact Milwaukee?".
Editor's note: This piece was originally published June 24, 2016. As thousands…
March 15, 20194min 28sec4.3 MB
Thumbnail for "The Story Behind That Iconic, Little Food Stand On Milwaukee's East Side".
On one of the busiest intersections of Milwaukee's east side, sits a tiny food…
March 8, 20193min 30sec5.05 MB
Thumbnail for "Cruller Or Kruller? However You Spell It, It's A Milwaukee Doughnut Staple".
One of Milwaukee's favorite treats is the cruller doughnut — or you may know it…
February 22, 20195min4.8 MB
Thumbnail for "What Was Milwaukee's Key Role In Typewriter History?".
Our Bubbler Talk question this week is one after my own heart. Tim Brever in…
January 25, 20194min 32sec8.74 MB
Thumbnail for "Is Lovers Lane Really For Lovers?".
Bubbler Talk — our series that answers your questions about Milwaukee and the…
January 18, 20193min 55sec5.67 MB
Thumbnail for "Milwaukee Likely Has Largest Rohingya Refugee Community In US".
You may have heard of one of the world's fastest-growing refugee crises: the…
January 4, 20195min 28sec7.89 MB
Thumbnail for "The Story Behind The Big Old House Above Milwaukee's Lincoln Memorial Drive".
Have you ever had a question that just won't go away? Milwaukee-native Ross…
December 21, 20184min 30sec6.51 MB
Thumbnail for "Stopping That Sinking Feeling At Milwaukee City Hall".
Milwaukee City Hall was completed in 1895. But if you've seen the building over…
December 14, 20185min 32sec7.97 MB
Thumbnail for "The Solomon Juneau Is A 'Jewel' In The Milwaukee River".
When Milwaukeeans hear the name Solomon Juneau it likely rings a few bells. He…
December 7, 20185min 17sec7.61 MB
Thumbnail for "Poblocki Paving: Rolling Puns For I-94 Commuters Since 1982".
For this week’s Bubbler Talk — our series where you ask, we investigate and…
November 30, 20185min4.8 MB
Thumbnail for "How Were Germans Treated In Milwaukee During The World Wars?".
Wisconsin boasts one of the largest German populations in the country, and in…
November 12, 20183min 46sec5.46 MB
Thumbnail for "Why Milwaukee Loves Church Festivals".
For this week’s Bubbler Talk — our series where you ask, we investigate and…
October 19, 20183min 52sec5.59 MB
Thumbnail for "Northridge Mall: Still Standing In Line For Renewal".
Northridge Mall was one of several large suburban malls built in the 1960s and…
August 24, 20185min 1sec7.22 MB
Thumbnail for "The Milwaukee Fire Department’s Unknown Heroes".
A fire truck making its way to a scene, sirens blazing, is a common sight in…
August 10, 20184min5.78 MB
Thumbnail for "Brady Street Beasts Creator Hopes To Restore Iconic Milwaukee Sculpture".
For this week’s Bubbler Talk, we tackled a request from Kathy Yanoff of…
July 27, 20183min 22sec4.86 MB
Thumbnail for "Painted Koi Fish Have Been 'Swimming' On Milwaukee's Sidewalks For Over A Decade".
If you do much walking through Milwaukee neighborhoods, say in the Historic…
July 13, 20183min 46sec5.44 MB
Thumbnail for "Ice Cream Cocktails, Milwaukee-Style".
This story originally aired September 8, 2017. According to TMJ4, At Random…
July 6, 20183min 50sec5.56 MB
Thumbnail for "How Do Milwaukee's Movable Bridges Work?".
If you live, work, or drive through downtown Milwaukee, chances are your route…
June 29, 20184min9.61 MB
Thumbnail for "Remembering Dick Bacon, Milwaukee's Man With The Tan".
Summer is the favorite time of year for most beach-goers. But Milwaukee once…
June 26, 20187min 23sec10.63 MB
Thumbnail for "Bubbler Talk: Milwaukee's Breakwater".
A Bubbler Talk listener was curious about Milwaukee's breakwater, wondering…
June 15, 20183min 41sec3.54 MB
Thumbnail for "Friday Night Fish Fry: The Story Behind A Milwaukee Tradition".
Raise your hand if this is how your typical Friday night goes: If you aren’t…
April 20, 20184min 3sec3.89 MB
Thumbnail for "If You Like Listening to WUWM, You Just Might Appreciate This Huge Metal Tower".
Our latest Bubbler Talk report involves the large metal tower at the entrance…
April 14, 20186min 13sec8.98 MB
Thumbnail for "What's The Story With Milwaukee's Police Call Boxes?".
Even if you’ve spent only a little time in Milwaukee, you’ve likely noticed…
March 23, 20184min9.61 MB
Thumbnail for "Think You've Been Duckpin Bowling in Milwaukee? Think Again.".
Bowling. It’s as Wisconsin as cheese curds and Packers gear. Some have even…
March 16, 20184min5.76 MB
Thumbnail for "Young Black Men Ask Milwaukee Media: Why Do You Cover Us The Way You Do?".
Why aren’t there more positive portrayals of black men in the news? That’s the…
March 2, 20189min 1sec8.66 MB
Thumbnail for "The Many Lives of Milwaukee's Castle on Kilbourn".
The Pabst Mansion, the Schuster Mansion, the Villa Filomena... Milwaukee is…
February 23, 20183min 26sec4.97 MB
Thumbnail for "Whatever Happened to Milwaukee's Alternative Newspaper, The Bugle?".
An impressive collection of old Bugle American newspapers are spread out on a…
February 9, 20183min 50sec5.53 MB
Thumbnail for "A Mystery Tree Grows In Milwaukee".
On this week's Bubbler Talk, we dig into a botanical mystery involving a…
February 2, 20184min5.76 MB
Thumbnail for "Dining With Dolphins: Remembering Milwaukee's 'Most Unusual' Restaurant".
Years ago, if you stood on the corner of Fourth and Mitchell Streets on…
January 26, 20187min 21sec7.06 MB
Thumbnail for "Friday on Lake Effect: Best of Bubbler Talk 2017".
Friday on Lake Effect:
January 5, 201853min 5sec76.34 MB
Thumbnail for "Did Chicago Crush Milwaukee's NHL Dreams?".
"Why doesn't Milwaukee have an NHL team?" That's the question Dave Brown of…
December 29, 20174min5.78 MB
Thumbnail for "The Salt that Keeps Milwaukee's Streets Safe to Drive in the Wintertime".
Winter is officially here, even though we have yet to see a big snowfall. But…
December 22, 20173min 58sec5.73 MB
Thumbnail for "What's the Deal with the Easter Island Head in New Berlin?".
You’re probably familiar with the dozens of huge sculptures of human-looking…
December 15, 20173min 39sec5.27 MB
Thumbnail for "Searching for a Fuller Picture of Wisconsin's Abolitionist History".
This week’s Bubbler Talk is rooted deep in Wisconsin history... in the story of…
December 1, 20174min 1sec3.92 MB
Thumbnail for "What Happened To Milwaukee's Beloved Old Smoky?".
From roughly 1944 until 1954, steam locomotive Number 265 carried load upon…
November 17, 20174min 5sec3.93 MB
Thumbnail for "Wisconsin-lllinois 'Rivalry' Seems A Bit ... One-Sided".
Certainly, Wisconsin and Illinois have storied rivalries in the sports arena:…
November 10, 201711min 54sec17.13 MB
Thumbnail for "Slinger Students Showcase Notable Places in 'Bubbler Talk'-Style Stories".
It’s listener suggestions that inspire the features that make up our weekly…
November 3, 201712min 15sec11.76 MB
Thumbnail for "What Ever Happened To Milwaukee's Love Rock?".
The Love Rock holds a special place in many Milwaukeeans' hearts. And for those…
October 27, 20173min 45sec5.41 MB
Thumbnail for "Why Does Milwaukee Have So Many Duplexes?".
Is there some question about Milwaukee that you’ve always wanted the answer to?…
October 13, 20173min 36sec5.19 MB
Thumbnail for "Echoes of Milwaukee's Gordon Park Bathhouse Remain".
What happened to the bathhouses that used to be along the Milwaukee River?
September 29, 20174min3.86 MB
Thumbnail for "There's A Bat In My Home! Now What?".
It was a Sunday night in late May when WUWM listener Josephine Gomez first saw…
September 22, 20174min5.78 MB
Thumbnail for "What's The Proper Way To Eat A Cream Puff?".
A lot has changed at the Wisconsin State Fair since the 1920s, especially in…
August 10, 20175min7.21 MB
Thumbnail for "What Makes Milwaukee's Frozen Custard Scene Special?".
Bubbler Talk is supposed to be on its summer break, as we gather more questions…
June 9, 20179min 21sec13.48 MB
Thumbnail for "Bubbler Talk Lightning Round: Milwaukee Streets".
WUWM's Bubbler Talk receives a lot questions from a lot of people about…
May 19, 20178min 55sec12.86 MB
Thumbnail for "An Update On The Story Behind the 'Flame' on Wisconsin Avenue".
Update:
May 15, 20173min 48sec5.49 MB
Thumbnail for "Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward Connection to the Vietnam War".
This week’s Bubbler Talk question comes from John Koeppen: What Milwaukee…
May 12, 20175min 59sec8.64 MB
Thumbnail for "Milwaukee's FDR-Era Water Treatment Plant: 'A Monument To Civic Majesty'".
This week's Bubbler Talk inquiry takes us to Milwaukee's lakefront. It has just…
April 14, 20173min 49sec5.51 MB
Thumbnail for "A Milwaukee Obsession: Sunday Hot Ham & Rolls".
Sometimes we come across questions that confound us. What came first, the…
April 7, 20173min 42sec5.34 MB
Thumbnail for "What Once Stood On The Vacant Acres In Milwaukee's Harbor?".
Update:
April 5, 20173min 43sec3.57 MB
Thumbnail for "The Story Behind The Giant Ladybugs On The Milwaukee Building".
Almost 20 years ago, Milwaukee was 'invaded' by three six-foot-tall ladybugs.…
March 31, 20173min 45sec3.61 MB
Thumbnail for "What Happened to Milwaukee's Signature Yeast Smell?".
Anyone who grew up in Milwaukee or who lived here before 2005 may remember a…
February 17, 20173min 45sec5.97 MB
Thumbnail for "What's Going On With The Grand Avenue Mall's Transformation?".
This week’s Bubbler Talk question comes from Jeanne Pehoski, who wanted to…
February 3, 20173min 41sec5.32 MB
Thumbnail for "There In Form, And Now In Function: Milwaukee's (Formerly) Timeless Clock".
To kick off the new season of Bubbler Talk, we’re going to revisit a question…
January 27, 20173min 45sec5.42 MB
Thumbnail for "The Story Behind Milwaukee's Iconic Address Tiles".
If you’ve ever walked around the city, you might have noticed the distinctive…
January 6, 201710min 20sec9.92 MB
Thumbnail for "North Point: A Milwaukee Water Tower That Never Held Water".
At the far eastern end of North Avenue in Milwaukee, you’ll find a structure…
December 9, 20163min 35sec5.16 MB
Thumbnail for "What's the History of Pompeii Square in Milwaukee?".
The sign reads Pompeii Square. Many people have zipped past this tiny strip of…
December 2, 20163min 45sec5.42 MB
Thumbnail for "Camels And Minarets In Milwaukee: What's The Story Behind That Tripoli Shrine?".
Nestled between Miller Brewery and Harley Davidson on the west and Marquette…
November 18, 20163min 57sec5.72 MB
Thumbnail for "Marble Hall: A Contender for Milwaukee's Oldest Building".
What is the oldest building in Milwaukee? That's the question Emily Pauly posed…
November 12, 20163min 58sec3.81 MB
Thumbnail for "South Side Of Milwaukee, Your Bar Dice Rules Aren't Wrong — Just Different".
The game bar dice is a staple at bars across Milwaukee as well as the state.
November 4, 20163min 49sec5.51 MB
Thumbnail for "Is There a Star of David on the Original Miller Brewhouse? Well, Not Exactly.".
Chances are if you ask a Milwaukeean about the best things to do in Brew City,…
October 28, 20163min 44sec5.41 MB
Thumbnail for "Discarded Cigarette Butts: More Than An Annoying Eyesore in Milwaukee".
Gross. Annoying. Ugly. But, illegal? This week, WUWM's Bubbler Talk answers the…
October 21, 20163min 52sec3.72 MB
Thumbnail for "A Stream Runs Under It: Wisconsin's State Fair Park Covers Part of Honey Creek".
This week's Bubbler Talk question comes from Jim Thompson, who teaches…
October 7, 20163min 45sec5.42 MB
Thumbnail for "In Wisconsin, A Bloody Mary Isn't Complete Unless It Has A Beer Chaser".
A weekend brunch staple: the Bloody Mary. The vodka and tomato juice drink has…
September 23, 20163min 58sec5.74 MB
Thumbnail for "Is There a Waterfall in Menomonee Falls?".
This week's Bubbler Talk question is a simple one. Danica Herritz asked: Is or…
July 22, 20163min 32sec5.1 MB
Thumbnail for "More Than A Bar: Riverwest Public House Builds Community".
This week’s Bubbler Talk inquiry comes from Beth Gehred. She wanted to know how…
July 8, 20163min 44sec5.38 MB
Thumbnail for "Why Is There a Street Named for Henry Clay in Whitefish Bay?".
Whether you've just moved to a new city or have been a life-long resident,…
June 3, 20163min 43sec3.57 MB
Thumbnail for "Did You Know There's An Ancient Coral Reef in Wauwatosa?".
This week's Bubbler Talk question comes from Spencer Hoyt, who asked WUWM: Why…
May 27, 20163min 39sec3.52 MB
Thumbnail for "The Story Behind Milwaukee's Round Buildings".
This week’s Bubbler Talk is all about buildings--round ones.
May 13, 20163min 46sec5.45 MB
Thumbnail for "Does Lake Michigan Water Make Sausage Taste Better?".
The ready access Milwaukee has to fresh water - lots and lots of fresh water -…
May 6, 20163min 48sec5.49 MB
Thumbnail for "What's the Deal with South Milwaukee's Addresses and Street Names?".
Steve Liszewski first noticed South Milwaukee's unique house numbering and…
April 29, 20163min 47sec5.47 MB
Thumbnail for "Why Do Wisconsinites Call That A Bubbler, Anyway?".
Katie Gnau recently moved to Shorewood from Chicago. And when her daughter came…
April 22, 20163min 45sec3.62 MB
Thumbnail for "What Have You Always Wondered About The Milwaukee Area?".
WUWM has launched a new series and is inviting YOU to participate. We want to…
April 22, 20166min5.77 MB

Who’s behind ‘The Unsung Hero,’ the 6-story mural in Milwaukee’s Third Ward?

Thumbnail for "Who’s behind ‘The Unsung Hero,’ the 6-story mural in Milwaukee’s Third Ward?".
July 18, 20253min 41sec

A massive mural in Milwaukee's Third Ward features a seated female figure wearing an apron. Her hands are crossed at the wrist and rest on her knees. But the painting stops at her shoulders. Who is behind "The Unsung Hero"?

Thumbnail for "Who’s behind ‘The Unsung Hero,’ the 6-story mural in Milwaukee’s Third Ward?".
Who’s behind ‘The Unsung Hero,’ the 6-story mural in Milwaukee’s Third Ward?
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