You’re walking past the Northwestern Mutual Tower in downtown Milwaukee… but what if I told you, right under your feet, there’s a lake? 👀
Nope, this ain’t a movie plot or a local legend — it’s a real part of Milwaukee’s forgotten history. Say hello to Lake Emily, the hidden body of water that once flowed where one of the city’s biggest skyscrapers now stands.
🕰️ A Flashback to the 1800s
Let’s take it back to the mid-1800s. Before Milwaukee was all high-rises and glass buildings, the area around what is now Cass and Mason streets had a small, natural lake known as Lake Emily.
It wasn’t a massive lake like Michigan, but it was real — and it had a bit of a reputation. Back then, it was known for being murky, mosquito-filled, and honestly… a little creepy. Some people even said it gave off “bad energy.”
😱 Trouble Beneath the Surface
Here’s where it gets eerie…
Bobby Tanzilo from OnMilwaukee did a excellent story about Lake Emily you can read more about it here.
As Milwaukee started to grow, developers realized that Lake Emily was sitting in the way of progress. And since they couldn’t just drain it with a big straw, they came up with a solution: bury it.
Yup — instead of removing the lake entirely, they just dumped tons of debris, bricks, and garbage into it and built over it. Like, “let’s just cover it up and act like it never happened” type of vibes.
But water doesn’t just disappear, y’all…
🧟♂️ Rumors, Ghost Stories & Strange Vibes
Over the years, people have said that the land above the old lake has had weird energy — buildings sinking slightly, basements that always flood, random waterlines that don’t make sense.
Some Milwaukee elders say the spirits of Lake Emily never left. 👻
Is it true? Who knows. But the fact remains: Lake Emily is still technically underneath us. And to this day, most people walk over it without even knowing it was ever there.
🏙️ Where Exactly Was It?
If you’re curious, the old Lake Emily was right around: 📍 Cass Street
📍 Mason Street
📍 Present-day site of Northwestern Mutual Tower & Commons
So next time you’re downtown grabbing coffee or headed to the lakefront, just know — Milwaukee is literally built on top of a lake that was erased from the maps.
🔍 Why You Never Heard of It
Here’s the thing — Milwaukee has so much hidden history, and Lake Emily is just one of the lost stories that rarely gets taught or talked about.
That’s why I created this blog — to bring our city’s culture, stories, and secrets back to the light 💡
🗣️ What do YOU think? Should Lake Emily have been preserved, or was burying it just part of the city evolving?
Drop a comment, share your thoughts, and let’s keep Milwaukee’s history alive.
Bobby Tanzilo wrote a excellent story about this you can read more about it here.
