MILWAUKEE. WI-- Historic Milwaukee is hosting a unique rappelling event to commemorate our organization's 50th anniversary. The event is held in partnership with Over The Edge, a special events company who will provide a team of Certified Rope Access Technicians to help participants rappel. We are thrilled to host the event at the historic 13-story Milwaukee Athletic Club located in downtown Milwaukee. 

On Friday, Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. we will kick off the event with eight VIP rappelers including: Milwaukee Fire Department Chief Aaron Lipski. Chief Lipski will be the first participant to go “Over the Edge” while wearing his full firefighter gear. Also on the schedule to rappel are Bango, the Milwaukee Bucks mascot. In addition to the Chief and Bango, the following Milwaukee Athletic Club staff, community leaders, social media influencers, sponsors, and media are set to rappel between 4 and 6 p.m.

The 4-5 p.m. group includes: Chief Lipski; aerial photographer Isaac Rowlett; GM of the Milwaukee Athletic Club Tom Hughes, Executive Director of Milwaukee Turners Emilio De Torre; and Matt Wild from the Milwaukee Record

The 5-6 p.m. group includes Bango; Kristin Brey from As Goes Wisconsin; and Claire Koenig, VP of Communications & Advocacy for Visit Milwaukee.

Note: We have 1 open slot for TV Media who wish to rappel. Please contact Stacy Swadish ASAP to reserve.

The general rappelling event starts at 10 a.m. Sunday Sept 22. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson will be rappelling at approximately 11 a.m. Sunday.

The public is invited to join and cheer on both the Friday VIP rappel and the Sunday general rappel from Broadway Street.

 "I am honored to have the opportunity to shine a light on Milwaukee's historic architecture and celebrate Historic Milwaukee's milestone anniversary year by rappelling off the Milwaukee Athletic Club," Mayor Johnson said.

“It’s not too late to sign up to rappel on Sunday or make a donation in support of Historic Milwaukee,” said Historic Milwaukee Executive Director Stacy Swadish. “We have about 38 slots available.” You can learn more and sign up here.

This event is a peer-to-peer fundraising event, in which participants are asked to raise $500 in support of Historic Milwaukee. Participants will receive a specially designed t-shirt, made by local printer Bay View Printing and other perks.

“All funds raised from this event will help keep Doors Open free and accessible,” said Grace Fuhr, Historic Milwaukee special events director. “Doors Open is set for Sept. 28-29th and has a great line up of more than 150 sites for our 14 annual program.” Learn more on the Doors Open Website.

For 50 years, Historic Milwaukee, Inc. (HMI) has been delivering tours and educational programs that promote architecture and design in Milwaukee. We are proud to be the only nonprofit in Milwaukee that presents architecture and design-focused art programming. HMI started in 1974 in the Walker’s Point neighborhood and soon expanded its footprint to Downtown and Milwaukee’s neighborhoods. HMI’s main programs include walking and app-based tours, Spaces & Traces and Doors Open Milwaukee.