Milwaukee ยท East Town
The Pfister Hotel
Opened in 1893 as the 'Grand Hotel of the West'; the state's inventory calls it the only grand hotel of its era still standing in Milwaukee.
- Built
- 1893Opened in 1893 as a hotel (the state inventory dates construction from 1890); Ben Marcus added a 23-story guest-room tower in the 1960s (1965 per the state inventory).
- Style
- Romanesque Revival
- Architect
- Henry C. Koch
- Type
- Grand hotel
- Area
- East Town
- Credentials
- Historic Hotels of America member; Inside a National Register historic district
The story
Businessman Guido Pfister and his son Charles conceived the hotel, which opened in 1893 billed as the “Grand Hotel of the West,” with fireproofing, electricity throughout and thermostats in every room. Its Romanesque Revival design is by Milwaukee architect Henry C. Koch, and the state inventory calls it the only grand hotel of its era still standing in Milwaukee. Movie-theatre operator Ben Marcus bought the aging hotel in 1962, restored it and added a 23-story guest-room tower in the 1960s. It is a contributing building in the East Side Commercial Historic District and a Historic Hotels of America member.
The ghost story
Lore holds that Charles Pfister, who died in 1927, still lingers in the lobby of his namesake hotel: Shepherd Express reports staff sightings of his apparition and says visiting Major League players including Adrian Beltre, Carlos Gomez, Colby Lewis and Bryce Harper have described ghostly encounters there, with Dodgers star Mookie Betts booking his own Airbnb rather than stay.
Source: shepherdexpress.com
Good to know
- Pets welcome
- Address: 424 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Things to do
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Last verified October 2026. Details change; confirm with the inn before you book.