The cache is not at the posted coordinates!
This is a bonus cache for completing the Geocaching Adventure Lab "Milwaukee's Magnificent Murals."
Milwaukee’s Murals
In recent years, Milwaukee has experienced an influx of public art. Buildings, parking structures, and storefronts are being transformed from brick facades to canvases for expression.
These forms of expression are interpreted by citizens of the neighborhood, passersby and visitors — and likely elicit different reactions from different people.
While there are other large and not-so-large murals throughout the city, the Adventure Lab associated with this Bonus Cache takes you on a tour of some of the largest and most impressive murals in Milwaukee’s downtown area. The tour is walkable, so you don’t have to find multiple parking places, and so you can experience more fully the experience of being downtown.
The Warner Grand Theater Mural
Although not included in the Adventure Lab tour, I want to highlight the huge false front painted on the East side of the Warner Grand Theater visible from the given coords. Adventure Labs are limited to five stops, and this one came in at number six.
This mural, originally painted by Richard Haas in 1981,is described in an On Milwaukee article as "a soaring trompe l’oeil illusionist work – roughly 120 by 75 feet – that appears to be a series of windows and a large central faux glass panel that reflects buildings no longer standing along Wisconsin Avenue, like the Pabst Building and the former Lake Front Depot, as well as some that are, like the former Gimbels building. The mural is so persuasive in its realism that many pedestrians walk by without realizing that it is a painting.
The Theater was an operating movie theater from 1931-1995. In 1930 the Warner Brothers spent $2,500,000 to build this 2,400-seat theater. "It is part of a 12-story office building veneered in marble and bronze spandrels and ornamented throughout in monel silver metal in Art Deco style design. The lobby is a three story high dazzler in towering etched mirrors that were framed in deep maroon draperies with fringless tassels (drops) in silver silk and fringe."
After sitting unused and deteriorating for 20 years, the theater was purchased by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. It since has been remodeled and reopened in 2021 as the Symphony's new home.
Adventure Labs and Finding the Bonus Cache
You must complete the Milwaukee's Magnificent Murals Adventure Lab to obtain the coordinates to this cache. The five locations in that Adventure have NO physical caches. At each location, you will receive info about that experience and will have to answer a simple question. For each correct answer, you are credited with the “find” for that Lab and receive a clue to the coords of this physical Bonus Cache.
The cache is camouflaged magnetic bison tube. Extreme stealth may be required, but you will be given a detailed hint along with the coordinates once you complete the Adventure Lab.
Although not required, please feel free to upload your (non spoiler) pictures from your adventure and tell about your experience in your log.
Geocaching Adventure Lab caches can only be found with the use of a smartphone or tablet using geocaching.com's free Adventure Lab app. Your adventure can begin after downloading the Geocaching Adventure Lab mobile app.
To find the Milwaukee's Magnificent Murals Adventure Lab, click this link: Milwaukee's Magnificent Murals or scan the QR code below with your phone's native QR code scanner (the camera). Both the link and this QR code take you to the Adventure Lab cache page.
Additional Information on Downtown Murals
Public Art in Milwaukee:
Why Milwaukee businesses are investing in public art
11 Stunning Milwaukee Murals (2022)
Milwaukee Mural Map
The Unsung Hero:
5 things to know about the huge new mural in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward
Kindred:
Kindred Mural
Heart & Sol:
Heart & Sol Mural
Westown in Bloom:
Emma Daisy Westown In Bloom Mural 2019 video
Westown in Bloom
Emma Daisy: Westown in Bloom
Westown blooms with completion of epic mural by Emma Daisy Gertel
The Norman Fire
The Hero in You
The Hero in You Mural
Permissione
The cache location has been approved by Gabriel Yeager, Downtown Environment Specialist with the Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District #21.