New Horizons
Milwaukee Bronzeville Histories is sponsored and supported by the non-profit organizations of The Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Create Wisconsin.
This is a beginning of an ongoing digital discovery, exploration and preservation of the history of Milwaukee Bronzeville, a historic African American community with a legacy of courage, resilience and entrepreneurship.
The digital platform takes the explorer on a continuing historic journey of the old community with the emergence of its new 21st century horizons.
A special thank you to our community historian Kitonga Alexander who begins this journey with us. Our first exploration is the BRONZEVILLE COLLECTIVE
2745 North Ave. Young entrepreneurs who took a chance and created a successful business in Milwaukee Bronzeville.
The BRONZEVILLE BABES is a sample of the new courageous leaders and visionaries in making their historic mark for future generations. Join us fellow explorers, tell your story and make your contribution to our digital site as partners, community members, visionaries and researchers creating " good will" among all communities.
Discover, Explore and Expand
History In The Making
Historic Milwaukee Bronzeville
Patricia Diggs
A Milwaukee Bronzeville Histories Explorer
Bronzeville Collective
Where Art and Business Meet
The Bronzeville Collective, located at 339 W. North Ave, in the heart of the Bronzeville arts and culture district, is a collaboration of creative individuals uniting as a collective unit. What initially began in 2016 as a city of Milwaukee sponsored pop-up program, has developed into a home for…
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Historic King Drive BID No. 8
Supporting Valuable Retail Experiences
Since 1992, the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District No. 8 has overseen more than $400 million in new developments. Serving the community from the Ameritech King Commerce Center on 2745 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, the BID’s mission is to improve the district by fostering a culture…
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Bronzeville Center for the Arts
Art and Culture of the African Diaspora
Established in 2020 and located in the expanded Bronzeville neighborhood, the Bronzeville Center for the Arts (BCA) is a nonprofit organization rooted in the art, culture, and history of the African Diaspora. The vision of the BCA is to “elevate the human capacity for creativity and knowledge,…
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America's Black Holocaust Museum
Remembering the Past to Shape the Future
America's Black Holocaust Museum builds public awareness of the harmful legacies of slavery and Jim Crow in America while promoting racial repair, reconciliation, and healing. They envision a nation undivided by race where every person matters equally is achieved when society utilizes its past to…
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Pepperpot
A Taste of Jamaica in Bronzeville
In 2022, the Pepperpot restaurant opened its doors in the Bronzeville community. The restaurant serves authentic Jamaican food and drinks amongst additional items on their menu. Originally located on 41st and Capitol, the Bronzeville location of 2215 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. is a much larger…
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Gee's Clippers
Serving the Community Through Haircuts and More
Opening in 1995, Gee’s Clippers is one of the largest black owned barbershops in the Midwest. Owner Gaulien “Gee” Smith moved the barbershop from a Sherman Blvd. and Fond du Lac Ave. location to the historic Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville community in 2017. Renovating a…
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ThriveOn Collaboration
Collaborating for the Community
As a collaborative effort between the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (GMF), the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Royal Capital Group (RCG) ThriveOn Collaboration was established to aide in eliminating racial, health, economic and social disparities in Milwaukee by making generational…
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Maranta Plant Shop
Bringing the Community Together with Plants
Located in the core of historic Bronzeville at 1739 N Doctor M.L.K Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53212, proudly states being Wisconsin’s first and only Black and Brown owned plant shop. The organization strives to make the experience of discovering the perfect plant accessible to everyone. Nestled in a prime…
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Wisconsin Black Historical Society
Preserving Wisconsin's Black History
The Wisconsin Black Historical Society has been preserving the history of African Americans in Wisconsin for over 30 years. It was established in 1987 by Clayborn Benson lll, the founding director, who recognized the need to document Wisconsin's African American history, which had been often…
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Sherman Phoenix
Engaging the Community Through Business
While not located geographically in the old or new Bronzeville neighborhoods, the Sherman Phoenix mirrors the energy of the Bronzeville business district equally. The collective of businesses at 3536 N. Fond Du Lac Ave in Milwaukee came into existence after a community was rocked by violence…
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