The Pfister Hotel's Storyteller Residency creatively captures and documents the spirit of our historic property. Through a curated collection of blog posts, social media narratives, and visual media, our Storyteller reveals the vibrant history, the cherished staff, and the esteemed guests who define our community, providing an intimate glimpse into what makes The Pfister truly exceptional.
It is a Friday night and there is a tornado warning in effect. Outside, the city is doing what cities do when the sky turns mean… horns, sirens. Inside Mason Street Grill, you would never know it. The bar is full. The banter is warm.
6 March 2026
41° degrees, Cloudy with heavy rain
The Pfister Hotel; Lobby Lounge
Dear Reader, where should I begin? Infancy? ...eh, no. Girlhood! Boom, yes, let's start there.
When I saw those two brown cherubs, I did what years of quiet disagreement my had taught me to do. I built a case against my own eyes.
Letter writing from hotels isn’t a new idea. It’s how people communicated before cell phones made everything instant and forgettable. Travelers would write home to notify family of their safe arrival, share a few things they’d seen, check in on business.
It’s been a season of gray days with the weather, and I’ve been feeling it. So when I walked into the Pfister for the Wonderland Tea, thanked my past self for making the reservation.
Letter writing from a hotel is one of my favorite parts of traveling. There is something about knowing the recipient will see a postmark from a different city or state that makes it feel exciting before they even open it. Instead of a text, they have something they can actually touch. A stamped souvenir with a piece of my experience inside for them to keep.
When I accepted the residency, one of the things I looked forward to most was experiencing The Pfister from the other side, as a guest.
The Pfister has many third spaces housed under one roof.
Letter writing from hotels isn’t a new idea. It’s how people communicated before cell phones made everything instant and forgettable. Travelers would write home to notify family of their safe arrival, share a few things they’d seen, check in on business.
It’s been a season of gray days with the weather, and I’ve been feeling it. So when I walked into the Pfister for the Wonderland Tea, thanked my past self for making the reservation.
Letter writing from a hotel is one of my favorite parts of traveling. There is something about knowing the recipient will see a postmark from a different city or state that makes it feel exciting before they even open it. Instead of a text, they have something they can actually touch. A stamped souvenir with a piece of my experience inside for them to keep.
When I accepted the residency, one of the things I looked forward to most was experiencing The Pfister from the other side, as a guest.
The Pfister has many third spaces housed under one roof.
Meet Megan Dorsey, Storyteller in Residence at The Pfister Hotel. Follow along as she explores the history and hidden corners of this iconic Milwaukee landmark, one journal entry at a time.
