SS Milwaukee back and forth from Milwaukee to the Grand Trunk Railway's dock in Grand Haven in western Michigan. This route enabled shippers to avoid the crowded railroad yards and sidings of Chicago. The "Milwaukee" was home-ported in the city for which it was named. The docks of the Grand Trunk Milwaukee Car Ferry Company were located on the Kinnickinnic River, and their ferries were familiar sights to residents of Jones Island. Around 2:00 pm on October 22, 1929, the "Milwaukee" sailed off on Lake Michigan into a storm bound for Grand Haven, and was lost. The "Milwaukee" had been loaded earlier
Milwaukee City Christmas Tree Special guests included characters from Milwaukee Ballet's Nutcracker and the Milwaukee Children's Choir. Refreshments for the celebration were provided by Starbucks. Like many other city–endorsed Christmas tree lightings, the tree lighting in Milwaukee was labeled "holiday" rather than "Christmas" in 1995 so as not to "offend non-Christians". In 2004 and 2005 many cities reversed their decision and re-labeled the tree as "Christmas" rather than the generic "holiday". Examples include the Capitol Christmas Tree and the California Capitol Christmas Tree. In October 2006, with a 9-5 vote, Milwaukee city council decided to rename the decade's old "Holiday tree" to a "Christmas