Greater Milwaukee Foundation "Gifts" Two Port Museums With Free Day on October 15th

Discover many hands on exhibits for kids at the Port Exploreum in downtown Port Washington

Launched in 2015, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s “Gifts to the Community” program aims to provide special opportunities for citizens to connect with the area's positive characteristics.  This year, in partnership with the Fund for Lake Michigan, area residents are being offered a special day of free admission to four signature destinations on our region’s shoreline, including two in Ozaukee County:  the Port Exploreum and the 1860 Light Station.

On Saturday, October 15th, both the Port Exploreum and the 1860 Light Station will be open to visitors for free, as well as the Betty Brinn Children's Museum, Discovery World, and the Milwaukee Art Museum, all in downtown Milwaukee.  Visitors to Port Washington will also find the Farmers Market happening downtown from 8 a.m. -12:30 p.m., and the tall ship Denis Sullivan will be in the harbor for special "Haunted Sullivan" sails.

As part of the Port Washington Historical Society, the 1860 Light Station and Port Exploreum vividly tell the stories of Port Washington from its earliest days to the present. The Light Station, located just east of the historic St. Mary’s Church, has been restored to reflect the life of a Light Keeper in the late 1800s.  It will be open from 11 a.m - 4 p.m.  The Port Exploreum, located in downtown Port, is a history and maritime museum that uses the latest technologies to interactively tell the stories of Port Washington and Lake Michigan.  There are many hands on activities for kids, and the Exploreum's latest exhibit, "Nothing But Nets," which chronicles the history and social impact of commercial fishing on the Port Washington area.  The Port Exploreum is open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For more information about the 2016 Gifts to the Community free access day, including destination information and program notes, visit greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/gifts.

About the Greater Milwaukee Foundation
For more than a century, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has helped individuals, families and organizations realize their philanthropic goals and make a difference in the community, during their lifetimes and for future generations. The Foundation consists of more than 1,200 individual charitable funds, each created by donors to serve the charitable causes of their choice. The Foundation also deploys both human and financial resources to address the most critical needs of the community and ensure the vitality of the region. Established in 1915, the Foundation was one of the first community foundations in the world and is now among the largest.

About Fund for Lake Michigan
The Fund for Lake Michigan, a donor advised fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, was established in 2011 as part of an agreement between We Energies, Madison Gas and Electric, WPPI Energy, Clean Wisconsin and Sierra Club to safeguard the lake and improve water quality in the region. The Fund has awarded more than $15 million in grants over the past five years to restore habitat, improve beaches, clean up rivers and streams, and revitalize waterfronts in the Milwaukee Area.

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