Bubbler Talk

A Bubbler Talk question-asker wondered what kinds of fish are seen leaping in the Milwaukee River. We set out to learn the answer.

Bubbler Talk digs into a question about how the Great Depression impacted Milwaukee by taking a look at a 'Hooverville' that existed near Lincoln Park.

A Bubbler Talk question asker was curious about Black historical sites in Milwaukee. There are many, so WUWM's Teran Powell chose to look at one that's had many lives: the Jones-Hill House in the Harambee neighborhood.

If you've driven northbound on Interstate 43 toward Milwaukee's downtown, chances are you've noticed a gigantic mural. Bubbler Talk digs into the story behind the colorful painting of an eagle and a dove with cascading flag stripes.

Bubbler Talk question asker Michelle Mullen started teaching in Fox Point, Wisconsin 10 years ago. And for just as long, she's wondered how the village was named and who created the fox-inspired street signs.

Milwaukeeans are able to check out books from 27 countywide library branches. And if the book isn't at your local branch, the library system will get it there... fast.

Everyday we use ZIP files — to download apps, create documents and send vital information over the internet. But did you know ZIP was created right here in Milwaukee as the final chapter in a battle for format supremacy.

Bubbler Talk question asker Adrienne LaRosa has fond family memories of Lake Park's Ravine Road. Closed since 2014, she wonders when it will open again.

Who were the first known Black people to settle in Milwaukee? That's the question that piqued the curiosity of one of our Bubbler Talk question askers, and led to an interesting conversation with Wisconsin Black Historical Society's Clayborn Benson.

When walking up to the Frank P. Zeidler Municipal Building, two lion statues greet you. Bubbler Talk question asker Nicole Reid of Racine wondered what the story behind them was.

Bubbler Talk takes up a listener's request to drive back in time and look into the history of the former vehicle production site on Clement Avenue in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood.

A Bubbler Talk listener sent us a question asking why Wisconsin's only urban state forest, Havenwoods, was created.

The Pfister Hotel is one of Milwaukee's most historic and luxurious places to stay. It's been around for nearly 130 years and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's also supposedly haunted. For Bubbler Talk WUWM's Becky Mortensen explores the history, lore, and legend behind the Pfister Hotel ghost.

Once located on the corner of Farwell and North on Milwaukee's East Side, Oriental Drugs' hodgepodge of offerings served customers for nearly 30 years. Since closing in 1995, the place became etched in the city's lore.

What was the Eagles Ballroom before it became The Rave? That's a question we've heard a lot at Bubbler Talk and it turns out there are a lot of answers.

Butter burgers! Think Kopp's, Culzer's and, of course, Solly's Grille — which was recently recognized by the James Beard Awards as an American classic.

Bubbler Talk question asker Tom Roberts has been wondering about the circular, metal structure in Bay View's Cupertino Park — what is it and why is it near Lake Michigan.

Water towers are a routine part of the scenery in Wauwatosa. Bubbler Talk question asker and Tosa resident Brice Smith wants to know why there are so many of them.

In 1938, the heir of the Blatz Brewing Company wanted to bring his love of classical music to Milwaukee. Emil Blatz provided $100,000 for the construction of a bandshell that would soon become a temple of music.

The waves of Lake Michigan bring in an unknown number of things onto the shore — trash, trinkets and sometimes treasures, as Erin Christie learned while beach combing. Erin and her husband regularly comb the beach together, which inspired her to ask Bubbler Talk to explore some of the cool and unique things people have found on the shores of Lake Michigan.

For this week's Bubbler Talk, question asker Dan Currier of Whitewater wants to know about a past iconic figure of Milwaukee: Where did the totem pole that stood in front the old and the new Milwaukee Public Museum come from?

On this Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Teran Powell looks into this question: Did Marian Anderson ever visit and sing in Milwaukee? If so, where did she stay, as individuals who were Black were not allowed to stay in hotels in the past.

Imagine you're rushing to catch a flight at Milwaukee County's General Mitchell International Airport — maybe for business or a long-anticipated vacation. What's on your mind? If you're Dan Schley, you're wondering: What's the story behind the floor mosaics?

For this week's Bubbler Talk, we look at how the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps expanded the Milwaukee County Park system in the 1930s.

For this week's Bubbler Talk, listener Connor Bowman asked us — “What's the story with the reindeer I've been seeing at COVID testing and vaccination sites around Milwaukee?”

When you look at a map of Wisconsin, it's covered in names that remind us of this country's original inhabitants. Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Waukesha, Kinnickinnic — all words derived from Native American languages.

At the corner of North Shepard Avenue and East Locust Street, there are standalone brick pillars. Listener Eric Kowalik wondered where the structures came from and what they were for.

People have a lot of questions when they come to the Milwaukee County Zoo. But the most the important one may be this: how did all of these animals even get here?

With the help of former Milwaukee Braves and a local historian, we look back at the celebrations after the Braves became World Series Champions in 1957.

On May 4, 1989, two Milwaukee celebrities — Bob Reitman and Gene Mueller, hosts of the popular WKTI morning show Reitman and Mueller — were featured as barflies on the popular sitcom Cheers. Bubbler Talk looks into how this came about.

Eileen Hosmanek was walking her dogs with her daughter on Milwaukee's Lower East Side and came across something quite strange: the Near Here plaque.

Riverwest resident Lindsey Goding came upon a mystery bridge above the Milwaukee River when she moved to the Milwaukee neighborhood a few years ago. Together, for Bubbler Talk, we uncover its purpose.

Baseball great Hank Aaron passed away this year and will be honored at the Major League All Star Game on Tuesday. So, we thought we'd finally bring to the plate a Bubbler Talk question from 2017 that asks about Aaron statues in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee is known as a city of breweries. But Bubbler Talk question asker Tom Targos has noticed another alcohol industry growing in Wisconsin — craft distilleries.

For this week's Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Audrey Nowakowski looks into why Milwaukeeans love their pizza topped with cheese, sausage, mushroom and onions.

On this week's Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson gives an update on the shuttering of iconic Up And Under Pub on Milwaukee's Brady Street last September.

The near south side of Milwaukee has long been home to the city’s Mexican community, where food has always been an important part of the culture. This week's Bubbler Talk explores the history of one family's longtime restaurant — Luna's Texas Restaurant.

On this Bubbler Talk, we learn about the history behind the stained glass windows found in Milwaukee bungalows.

For more than 20 years, families gathered around their radios during the holidays to hear the Billie the Brownie show, featuring Billie, Santa Claus and Captain Larry.

When you’re driving to work, there’s nothing worse than seeing a traffic sign that shows delays ahead. But if you’re like firefighter Drew Schuster, there's one thing you look forward to seeing: the witty safety messages.

A listener recently discovered a piece of cultural and legal history on a break from jury duty at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, and wanted to know the story behind the Mahatma Gandhi statue.

The south side of Milwaukee is known for having a lot of churches. In fact, depending on where you are, many of those churches dot the Milwaukee skyline with their steeples.