THE PFISTER HOTEL

A HISTORIC MILWAUKEE HOTEL

Over 130 Years of Grand Elegance

 

Portrait of Charles Pfister

As the vision of businessman Guido Pfister and his son, Charles, The Pfister Hotel opened in 1893, billed as the “Grand Hotel of the West,” a welcoming and luxurious meeting place.

Succeeding on both fronts, this historic Milwaukee hotel was the most lavish hotel of its time, costing nearly $1 million, it featured groundbreaking innovations such as fireproofing, electricity throughout the hotel, and individual thermostat controls in every room. Designed by architect Charles Koch, the hotel features a Romanesque Revival design.

Fast-forward to 1962, when, after over half a century of operation The Pfister was showing its age. Movie theatre operator, Ben Marcus, purchased the hotel at an auction with the intent of renovating the historic Milwaukee hotel to its original beauty. As part of Marcus' investment in the property, a new 23-story guest room tower was added in the 1960s.

Since opening well over a century ago, The Pfister has and continues to host the world’s most celebrated entertainers and dignitaries. 

Collected by Guido and Charles Pfister, the hotel houses the largest Victorian art collection of any hotel in the world. Visitors can explore and learn about this art collection with a self-guided tour or a scheduled tour with the hotel’s current Artist-in-Residence.

Guided by “Salve” – a philosophy of the finest hospitality – associates of the Pfister carry on the legacy of excellence established by Guido and Charles over a century ago.

For 130 years, The Pfister Hotel has stood as an icon of prestige, history, and timeless excellence in Milwaukee. Pfister associates strive to ensure that when guests arrive, they come to a warm and friendly place that is much more than a hotel – it’s an experience. As Milwaukee’s renowned luxury hotel, The Pfister has brought history, a celebration of art, and a philosophy of exceptional hospitality to locals and visitors alike. 

The Pfister Hotel is a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide®, which is dedicated to promoting heritage and cultural travel to prestigious historic treasures.

 

The Pfister Hotel Heritage Bedroom (3) (2) 2000The Pfister Hotel Heritage Bedroom (3) (2) 2000
The Pfister Hotel

AAA Four Diamond

The Pfister is proud to be awarded a Four Diamond hotel from AAA since 1978. Every year, AAA inspectors visit 27,000 hotels across North America to find the best stays for its members as it relates to modern guest expectations. We are pleased to provide exceptional service at our boutique hotel in Milwaukee and are guided by “Salve” – a philosophy of the finest hospitality.

Historic Hotels of America

 

A Milwaukee Historic Hotel
Preferred Hotels

The Pfister Hotel is a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide®, which is dedicated to promoting heritage and cultural travel to prestigious historic treasures.

The National Trust Historic Hotels of America (HHA) is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. HHA has identified more than 220 quality hotels that have faithfully maintained their historic architecture and ambience. To be selected for this program, a historic hotel must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized locally as having historic significance.
 
The Pfister is proud to meet these qualifications.
 

Historic Significance

The vision of Guido Pfister and his son Charles was to create a “grand hotel of the west.” When the Pfister opened its doors in 1893, it was a lavish production and was met with unbridled enthusiasm. The Romanesque Revival design of architect Charles Koch incorporated such groundbreaking features as fireproofing, electricity throughout the Milwaukee historic hotel, its own power plant and individual thermostat controls in every room. The sophisticated Imperial ballroom, with its impressive 32-foot ceilings, quickly became a favorite venue for weddings, balls and social gatherings. Charles Pfister’s passion for art and collecting resulted in what remains today the world’s largest hotel collection of Victorian art. Located near the Historic Third Ward in Milwaukee, the Pfister is part of the city's historic legacy as well as an artistic masterpiece.