How to Tour Historic Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee

Learning about the history of an area is as easy as going through its cemeteries, once considered the centers of many communities. Often the only park-like setting around, loving family members would picnic on the graves of their ancestors. These days cemeteries are usually empty. A stroll through an older cemetery, however, can lead you down a path of history and introduce you to the founding fathers of a city. Forest Home cemetery in Milwaukee Wisconsin is no different. Want to meet an original beer baron? Bring your camera and take a walk through Forest Home cemetery.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Visit Fred Usingers's final resting place. The Usinger name will be forever linked to old world sausage recipes and Usinger products are still sold from the family store in the Old World Third Street district. You'll find Fred Usinger's grave in Section 6, Block 1, Lot 2.
2. Toast Jacob Best at his memorial in Section 8, Block 9, Lots 13 and 14. He was one of the first brewers in the area and his business eventually turned into the Pabst Brewing Company.
3. Raise another glass to Fredrick Pabst in Section 40, Lot 16. This Great Lakes steamer captain married Jacob Best's daughter and invested in the family business. Once Best retired, the Pabst dynasty began. Visitors can also tour the Pabst mansion and see a show in the Pabst theater.
4. If you can't get enough of a good brew, consult your cemetery map and visit August Krug, August Uihlein, Joseph Schlitz and Valentin Blatz.

Tips & Warnings

• Bring a good camera. There are plenty of beautiful monuments here and a photographer will be inspired.
• Come during visitor hours and stop in at the main office to get a map of the grounds.