September 13th, 2025 - 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM

Join us for a public celebration of South Milwaukee's art, architecture, culture, history, and people, with behind-the-scenes access to buildings throughout the city.  

2025 Participating Locations

Caterpillar - 1118 Rawson Avenue - Tours available until 12:30 pm.

Caterpillar will open its doors for tours from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm.  Each tour will be about 30 minutes in length, and each tour will be conducted on the hour and on the half-hour.  If crowded, the company will conduct tours every 15-20 minutes.  Tours will be limited to about 20-25 people. 

• All guest entering the facility will have to sign a waiver.
• All guests must wear closed-toe and closed-heel shoes.
• All guest must wear PPE that is given to them as they arrive - earplugs and safety glasses.
• Photography will be limited.  It is only allowed in certain areas of the factory, and guest will be notified when they can take a photo.
• Safety briefs will be conducted prior to the tour, and any guest who cannot comply with the safety rules till be excused from the tour.
• Parking available on site.
• Guests are asked to look for entrances and exits when arriving.

Ebenezer Daycare (formally Mary Linsmeier) - 1327 Marshall Avenue

Ebenezer Child Care Centers is a not-for-profit child care agency that has been partnering with busy families throughout Greater Milwaukee for over 50 years.  We understand it takes a village to raise a child.  Our experienced teachers are here to help!

Holy Resurrection Armenian Church - 909 Michigan Avenue

Holy Resurrection, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, represents one of the three oldest Armenian settlements east of California (Union City, NJ, and Worcester, MA, are Nos. 1 and 2). We are celebrating our 100th anniversary starting in 2024, making us one of the oldest congregations in South Milwaukee. The original wooden structure burned down, and the current church was built on the same spot in 1962. We will have grilled shish kebab and Armenian pastries for sale on September 7. The bake sale offers a touch of nostalgia, as it is reminiscent of our annual Autumn Bake Sale at the Marine Bank (where Tri-City Bank is today).

Masjid Al-Huda South Milwaukee - 1800 16th Avenue

Two Campuses, One Mission
Founded & Greenfield Campus

Mission: building stronger faithful community that worship the god of all prophets including Adam, Noah, Ibrahim, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad...peace be upon them all.

Offerings:

• Five daily prayers and two Friday (Jumu'ah) services
• Full-time Qur'an memorization
• Evening youth classes, sisters' programs, children's crafts, and more

Community Impact: Founder of the Milwaukee Muslim Funeral Home, the first Islamic funeral home in Wisconsin - operating through community donations. 

South Milwaukee Campus
Location: 1800 16th Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI 53172

Worship Services:
Hosts five daily prayers and Friday
Accommodates funeral prayers through same facility. 

Community Reception: 
A local blog highlighted that around mid-2016, the South Milwaukee site began worship services in a repurposed former school building (formerly St. Adalbert's), with cleaned classrooms and a sanctuary refurbished for regular use.  It was envisioned as a long-term second home alongside the Greenfield location, hosting five daily prayer services and expanding educational offerings.

Max A. Sass & Sons Funeral Home - 1314 Manitoba Avenue

Max A. Sass & Sons is a family-owned funeral home with five locations. We are celebrating our 87th anniversary this year, making us one of the oldest family-owned funeral homes in the Milwaukee area. We began serving the South Shore area when we purchased the former St. Mary Catholic School and, after extensive remodeling, opened the location in 2012. At Open Doors, we will be offering tours of the entire facility -- including the basement lunch room and second floor classrooms, which are still original -- as well as sweet treats, a chance to win gift certificates to local businesses, and a chance to ask those funeral questions you were always afraid to ask. 

Motorplex - 1601 N. Chicago Avenue

Motorplex is a family-owned and operated automotive repair center with a rich history spanning over two decades. Founded in 2004 as Scott’s Automotive by Scott Emanuele, we’ve recently rebranded to better reflect our passion for performance and commitment to our community. Together with his wife, Jodi, Scott has built a business grounded in trust, expertise, and exceptional customer service. We moved from West Allis to South Milwaukee and re-opened our doors earlier this summer after an extensive renovation project. 

Motorplex is not your average auto repair facility; we have 10 service bays, 2 alignment bays, detailing including ceramic coating and paint protection film. We also offer vehicle sales along with year round vehicle storage.

Rosenquist Fine Art (Art Gallery) - 1805 10th Avenue

Rosenquist Fine Art is committed to promoting creativity, artistic expression, and cultural exchange. Stop by this newly expanded art gallery and boutique that offers art exhibitions featuring the works of local and regional makers. The gallery used to be in the front portion of the building only, but in January 2025, we expanded to the back one-bedroom apartment as well, doubling the size of our space and leaving more room for art exhibitions, boutique shopping, and even a working art studio for owner/artist, Shelly Rosenquist. 

Visit Rosenquist Fine Art and start your holiday shopping early, or just enjoy the paintings in our current exhibition, "Brandee Lyons, Dreams and Reality," in our beautiful 100-year-old building. Light snacks and drinks will be provided."

South Milwaukee Fire Department - 929 Marshall Court

Join us for an exciting Open Doors visit at the South Milwaukee Fire Department! Attendees can expect guided tours of the station, demonstrations of firefighting equipment, and interactive sessions with our dedicated firefighters. Learn about our life-saving Cardiac Conscious Community program, including hands-on AED training. This is a great opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at how we keep our community safe. All ages are welcome, and we encourage everyone to ask questions and get involved!

South Milwaukee High School -  801 15th Avenue

Enter from Door 29 (East Side/Athletic Entrance) The school’s Heritage Hallway will be open for people to walk in, see and read the history of the city. Bucyrus Stadium will be open, and if it is not in use, visitors will be able to walk the track on the field. South Milwaukee Student Senate will also be having a car wash in the student parking lot.

South Milwaukee Historical Society - 717 Milwaukee Avenue

For over 50 years, the South Milwaukee Historical Society has been working to preserve our city’s Proud Past. Visitors to the museum will see displays highlighting early industry, the Spectacle of Music, local baseball, South Milwaukee’s many sweet shops from the past, and much more. We will also be holding a raffle to raise money for a new sign for the Historical Society Museum. Raffle items include wine baskets, a relaxation basket, a cat basket, a coffee basket, and a history basket.  Stop in, explore, and discover our city's rich history! 

South Milwaukee Police Department - 2424 15th Avenue

The Police Department will offer tours at the top of each hour, with the last tour starting at 2 p.m. You will learn about our history and mission to keep our community safe through guided tours led by a member of our force. 

South Milwaukee Street Department - 910 Marshall Avenue

See the equipment that powers the Street Department! Garbage trucks, dump trucks, front end loaders, salters, chippers, bucket truck, street sweepers will be out in the yard and on display for all to see. A quick walk through the shop will allow visitors to see the garage and the mechanics repair facility. 

South Milwaukee Train Station (Benkowski Builders) - 1111 Milwaukee Avenue

In 1981, the company restored and moved into the historic Chicago & Northwestern railroad depot, committing to the revitalization of South Milwaukee.  As the housing market shifted in the 1980's Benkowski Builders Inc. was founded in 1950 by Edwin and Shirley Benkowski in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a mission to build quality, affordable homes.  For over 30 years, they constructed thousands of homes across Southeastern Wisconsin, becoming a leading name in home construction.

South Milwaukee United Methodist Church - 1327 Marshall Avenue

We have deep roots in our community,  going back to 1893.  And 2025 marks our 70th anniversary at our "new" building.  See our impressive sanctuary and view murals of historical photographs over some coffee and snacks.  Also, our Mission Sewing group will be displaying quilts that are donated around the world.  Win one in a free drawing.  

If you can't make it on Saturday, come to one of our all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts held three times a year. 

South Milwaukee Yacht Club - 101 Marshall Avenue

Discover the South Milwaukee Yacht Club

Located in South Milwaukee, WI, our club is an affordable, family-friendly destination for boating enthusiasts of all kinds. We proudly offer a vibrant youth sailing program, an active sport fishing club, and all the essential services a cruiser needs. Whether you're here to relax, learn, fish, or set sail, the South Milwaukee Yacht Club has something for everyone. 

Take a stroll through some of our scenic 14-acre grounds and enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Michigan. Step into our welcoming clubhouse, where 75 years of rich maritime history line the walls. While you're here, enjoy a tasty, refreshing beverage at our bar as you unwind and take in the stunning lakeside atmosphere. 

Our well-equipped facility includes 92 slips, a clubhouse with a bar, a fuel dock, a fish cleaning station, an outdoor pavilion, and 24/7 bathroom and shower facilities. These amenities are sustained and maintained through a unique co-op style membership — where members work together to keep the club thriving. 

With a proud 75-year heritage rooted in boating, family, friends, and fellowship, the South Milwaukee Yacht Club is more than just a marina—it’s a community.

Come see all that this hidden lakeside gem has to offer! 

St. Luke's United Church of Christ - 1327 Marshall Avenue

St. Luke's has worshiped as a Congregation in South Milwaukee for almost 120 years.  We've had different buildings throughout that time to reflect our church membership needs.  We are currently worshiping in the Chapel of the South Milwaukee United Methodist Church and are still an active part of our community.  Stop in for a visit to view scrapbooks of our history and meet Paster Pete - our new minister.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church - 1314 Rawson Avenue

All are welcome at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.  We are a small church with a big heart and open arms. Many people are familiar with St. Mark’s for our family-friendly events such as Barks at St. Mark’s the 2nd Sunday of June, and Trunk n Treat in October!  

We are honored to be part of Open Doors and the wonderful South Milwaukee Community.  Visit us this Saturday and you will be greeted by the Friendly Folks of St. Mark’s. Everyone is able to take a guided or self-guided tour of the historic cemetery (locate the resting places of several historic figures including soldiers from the Civil War) and check out the history of our bell. Then walk through the Open Doors of St. Mark’s to see the sanctuary and enjoy coffee, a tasty treat and visit with St. Mark’s parishioners in the Fellowship Hall. We look forward to seeing you!  We are located in front of the South Milwaukee water tower, and next to Rawson School. 

South Milwaukee Wastewater Treatment Facility - 3003 5th Avenue - Tour available only at 11:00 a.m.

The Treatment Facility goes through 6 processes at the treatment facility: fine screening, grit removal, primary settling, secondary biological treatment, final clarification, and disinfection. The screenings and grit are collected and sent to a landfill site. The sludge generated during the primary settling and secondary biological treatment is pumped to an anaerobic digester, where it is processed to remove volatile components. It is then thickened and stored until it can be trucked out and applied to farm fields in the area. The last step the wastewater goes through is ultra-violet disinfection, which destroys most of the pathogenic bacteria that remain. The clean water is discharged into Lake Michigan. 

The facility also has a laboratory that runs daily tests on the wastewater to monitor the processes and report results to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 

 Trinity Lutheran Church  - 2507 5th Avenue

When people stop in at Trinity, they will be welcomed by congregation members.  We will have historical information available as well as refreshments — a taste of our Scandinavian heritage.  Our beautiful stained-glass windows will be featured in a booklet explaining the symbols in our windows. 

Wulff Lodge - Friends of Grant Park - 100 Hawthorne Avenue

Wulff Lodge was the home of Frederick Wulff, who was hired as the first horticulturist for the county park system. It was built in 1916. There will be a tour of the lodge and surrounding gardens, and interesting facts about Grant Park’s history. Visitors are welcomed by members of Friends of Grant Park. Photo cards, t-shirts, and water will be for sale. Parking is in the Wil-O-Way lot before Area 7. Enter Wil-O-Way Grant off of Lake Dr. and follow the signs. Note: There is a fairly long walk (about two blocks) on a gravel road from the parking lot to the lodge.