The Pfister Hotel
Milwaukee, WI
When it opened its doors in 1893, The Pfister Hotel was called “The Grand Hotel of the West.” Architect Charles Koch’s Romanesque Revival design incorporated innovative construction and an in-house electrical power plant, which made it America’s first hotel with individual thermostats in each guestroom. The distinctive three-story lobby is dominated by a grand marble staircase and a massive fireplace, and the hotel boasts the largest collection of American Victorian art at any hotel in the world. Other features include a club lounge, fitness studio, indoor pool, and Blu—a cocktail lounge on the 23rd floor, offering breathtaking views of the city and Lake Michigan. The Pfister Hotel has been named to these Historic Hotels of America Top 25 Lists The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America for a Romantic Proposal The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Magnificent Art Collections The 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Magnificent Art Collections The 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Magnificent Ceilings and Domes The 2023 Historic Hotels of America Top 25 Afternoon Tea Experiences The 2022 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Magnificent Art Collections The 2022 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America for a Romantic Proposal