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All the United States Wisconsin Milwaukee Ladybug Building

Ladybug Building

The bugs crawling down the front of this office building are almost as big as a '68 VW Beetle.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Added By
Christine Williamson
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CAPTION
6-11-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
6-11-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
6-11-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Ladybugs in the wilds of Milwaukee   Christine Williamson (Atlas Obscura User)
6-11-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
6-11-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
  scottsbiz / Atlas Obscura User
6-11-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Ladybugs “Live” at the Friday Breakfast Club   Christine Williamson (Atlas Obscura User)
Milwaukee Building, alias the Ladybug Building   Jim Simonson
Facade of the Ladybug Building in Milwaukee   Mike Steele
Each bug is one story tall   Jim Simonson
  jlord7 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Officially it’s the Milwaukee Building, but since 1999 few have called it that. Back then, looking to help shake some of the drab off of its downtown office towers, the city of Milwaukee went on a beautification bender, and one of their pet projects was this building. After all, what better way to add some architectural zest to a generic building than three giant ladybugs?

The insects, each 10 feet long, were added to the façade as an art installation, adding stark but whimsical contrast to the glass and metal cladding and with the 19th-century buildings scattered around it. There are pretty standard office suites on the upper floors (some are available if you’re in the market), and on the ground floor there have been a couple of different nightclubs.

One venue, aptly named the Ladybug Club, opened and closed by 2010. But there’s a new hotspot in the space now, called 618 Live on Water. The ladybugs are clearly climbing down the building, not up. If they make it to the entrance they might just get carded.

Related Tags

Bug Architectural Oddities Installations Art Architecture

Know Before You Go

The Milwaukee Building is a block off the Milwaukee River, on N. Water between E. Michigan and E. Wisconsin. The ladybugs can be seen any time, day or night. 

This art piece is now been reopened after being taken down for restoration.

Community Contributors

Added By

Christine Williamson

Edited By

mickeledwards, Darrell Powers, scottsbiz, amygoan...

  • mickeledwards
  • Darrell Powers
  • scottsbiz
  • amygoan
  • jlord7

Published

September 29, 2016

Updated

July 10, 2024

Edit this listing

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Sources
  • https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2024/05/08/milwaukee-buildings-ladybugs-will-be-back-later-this-month/73613903007/
  • http://highwayhighlights.com/2013/03/ladybug-building-milwaukee-wi/
  • http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/26487
  • http://www.burkeproperties.com/commercial/milwaukee-building/
Ladybug Building
622 N Water Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
United States
43.032978, -87.909094
Get Directions

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Milwaukee

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

Places 26
Stories 8

Nearby Places

National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

miles away

Shaker's Cigar Bar

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

miles away

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Milwaukee, Wisconsin

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Milwaukee

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

Places 26
Stories 8

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