Dorothy Enderis was the second, and arguably most influential, leader of the Milwaukee Recreation Department. Learn about her and the neighborhood named in her honor.

Meet Ringo: The star, artist and friend of Bradford Beach

Nov 17th, 2023 4m 30s

Meet a Milwaukee character you've likely seen hanging out at Bradford Beach.

The story of an intriguing Sherman Park home begins with 1933 award-winning design

Nov 10th, 2023 4m 30s

The sleek, striking, boxy home's contemporary style stands out in the sea of more traditional Milwaukee homes that surround it.

The journey of the ancestral pole that once stood outside of the Milwaukee Public Museum

Nov 3rd, 2023 5m 7s

Bubbler Talk question asker Dan Currier of Whitewater wants to know about a past iconic figure of Milwaukee: Where did the totem pole that stood in front of the old and the new Milwaukee Public Museum come from?

There's a radio haunting this century-old Milwaukee area bar

Oct 27th, 2023 7m 55s

A Bubbler Talk listener, history nerd and radio reporter walk into a Wisconsin bar.

Look! Under the railroad tracks, there's a model railroad club in Milwaukee

Oct 20th, 2023 4m 41s

Club members tell WUWM about model trains and memories.

'Off-key, off-tempo': A former Milwaukee Symphony conductor battles the foghorns

Oct 13th, 2023 5m 30s

In 1974, former Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra conductor Kenneth Schermerhorn found the foghorns so distracting that he wrote a formal complaint to the Coast Guard about them. On this week's Bubbler Talk, we learn more about Schermerhorn and the

Holiday hibernation: What happened to the Grand Avenue Mall's robotic bear orchestra?

Oct 9th, 2023 5m

For about 20 years, the Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra performed at the Grand Avenue Mall. Where did the animatronic bears go?

How to research historic properties in Milwaukee

Aug 4th, 2023 6m

Have you ever wanted to learn more about a historic home or building in Milwaukee? This Bubbler Talk explores how to do the research and gives you the tools to do it yourself.

The history of comic book shops in Milwaukee

Jul 28th, 2023 4m 5s

Bubbler Talk question asker Conor Byrne was curious about the history of comic shops in Milwaukee. We spoke with local store owners and discovered the origin story behind the city's early comic scene.

The past and future of Lake Michigan’s colors

Jul 21st, 2023 5m 37s

A Bubbler Talk listener asks how Lake Michigan often has several shades of blue at once.

Why yes, there is passenger rail in Milwaukee and more is coming — maybe a lot more

Jul 14th, 2023 4m 53s

Amtrak's Hiawatha and Empire Builder will soon be joined by the TCMC and maybe, eventually, others in Milwaukee.

What happened to Milwaukee's lakefront foghorn?

Jun 30th, 2023 4m 30s

Bubbler Talk question asker Mark Behar has lived on Milwaukee's east side since the 1970s. He remembers a calming, consistent foghorn off the lakefront whenever there was inclement weather. He wants to know: What changed?

Evolution of Historic Mitchell Street: Milwaukee shopping hub to diverse neighborhood

Jun 23rd, 2023 6m 16s

One of Milwaukee’s culturally-rich neighborhoods is Historic Mitchell Street on the city’s south side. Its businesses and residents have evolved, starting with deep Polish roots to today’s rich Hispanic flavor.

The story of the bridge that appears to lead to nowhere along the Milwaukee River

Jun 15th, 2023 4m 49s

Riverwest resident Lindsey Goding came upon a mystery bridge above the Milwaukee River when she moved to the Milwaukee neighborhood. Together, for Bubbler Talk, we uncover its purpose.

Where did the Riverwest 'Please Be Civil' neon sign go?

Jun 9th, 2023 4m 40s

Lauren Keene reached out to Bubbler Talk wanting to know what happened to the "Please Be Civil" neon sign that used to be visible at the corner of North and Humboldt in Milwaukee.

The history of MSOE's Grohmann Museum & the bronze statues that turn

Mar 31st, 2023 4m 30s

This week’s Bubbler Talk goes to the Grohmann Museum on the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s campus. The roof of the building is lined with bronze statues of workers, which sometimes face inward and other times look out towards the street. We'

Live from Milwaukee! 5 albums recorded in the Cream City

Mar 24th, 2023 4m 59s

Zack Biernat reached out to Bubbler Talk wanting to know if any live albums from big name acts have been recorded in Milwaukee. After some digging, we discovered there are actually quite a few.

There's a strange set of numbers and months inlaid in front of the Domes. What is it?

Mar 17th, 2023 4m 30s

In front of the Domes in Milwaukee, there's a set of numbers curving around a center plaque that lists each month of the year. Bubbler Talk explores what it is and how to use it.

The saga of Milwaukee's water tower dragon

Mar 9th, 2023 5m 1s

It was like something out of a fairy tale. One day in the fall of 1985, a green and gold dragon appeared on Milwaukee’s East Side.

Who were Milwaukee's first engineers, architects?

Mar 3rd, 2023 5m 45s

Lifelong Milwaukeean and Bubbler Talk listener Reginald Jones wondered who shaped the built environment in our city's early history. We find there's not a straightforward answer.

The history behind some of Milwaukee-area's lesser-known cemeteries

Mar 1st, 2023 4m 28s

Several Bubbler Talk listeners are curious about cemeteries in their neighborhoods, like St. Adalbert Cemetery and Union Cemetery.

Kilbourn Reservoir Park was once a key piece of Milwaukee’s drinking water system

Feb 17th, 2023 4m 29s

Kilbourn Reservoir Park was once the main storage for Milwaukee's drinking water.

What’s the deal with leaping fish in the Milwaukee River?

Feb 10th, 2023 5m 37s

A Bubbler Talk question-asker wondered what kinds of fish are seen leaping in the Milwaukee River. We set out to learn the answer.

How did Jeffrey Dahmer harm Milwaukee's gay community?

Sep 30th, 2022 4m 27s

A Bubbler Talk listener wanted to know how much harm Jeffrey Dahmer’s crimes caused Milwaukee’s gay community. But to understand Dahmer’s impact, we first need to look at what life was like for LGBTQ Milwaukeeans in the 1980s.