Valentin Blatz Brewing Company Office Building facts for kids
The Valentin Blatz Brewing Company Office Building is a historic building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was built a long time ago, in 1890, and was once the main office for a big brewing company. This special building was designed by an architect named Paul Schnetzky. It has a unique look, called Romanesque style, and is listed as an important historical place in the United States.
Quick facts for kids |
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Valentin Blatz Brewing Company Office Building
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Panoramic view of building as seen from MSOE resident hall.
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| Location | 1120 N. Broadway Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Architect | H. Paul Schnetzky |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003404 |
| Added to NRHP | March 31, 1983 |
Contents
A Historic Milwaukee Building
The Valentin Blatz Brewing Company Office Building was built in 1890. It was the main office for the Valentin Blatz Brewing Company. This company made beer, and its offices were right here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The building was designed by an architect named Paul Schnetzky. He used a style called Romanesque. This style often has strong, rounded arches and thick walls. The building is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Special Features of the Building
This building has some really cool and unique parts. For a while, it was home to a place called the Beer Baron Restaurant. Inside, there's a ceiling window with a painting. This painting shows famous brewers like Joseph Schlitz, Frederick Miller, Frederick Pabst, and Valentin Blatz. Another brewer, Gottlieb Heileman, is also in the painting, but he's shown further away. This is because his brewery was not in Milwaukee.
One fun detail is that Valentin Blatz's face in the painting was a cut-out. He could remove it to look down from his office at his workers!
A Building Designed for Its Owner
Did you know this building is built to a special size? It's made to be 3/4 the size of a typical large office building. Why? Valentin Blatz was a bit sensitive about being short. He wanted a building that wouldn't make him feel tiny. So, he had this smaller building designed. It helped him feel more comfortable and not overwhelmed by huge buildings.
What's Inside?
The building also has a very interesting feature: a three-story walk-in safe! Imagine a safe that's tall enough to walk into on three different levels. This shows how important and valuable the company's records and items must have been.
The Building Today
Today, the building has a new life. It is owned and used by the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). It's now called the Alumni Partnership Center. This building is where MSOE's Marketing, Alumni Affairs, and Development departments work. It also serves as a meeting place for people who have graduated from MSOE.
