A six-story, 193,000-square-foot, brick-masonry structure – Fortress – is one of Milwaukee’s most recognizable historic buildings. Originally built in 1892, Fortress has seen several additions in the years leading up to 1912. The result is a distinct, red brick building with unique architectural flourishes and a tower feature that’s reminiscent of a medieval fortress.

The building’s original tenant was the F. Mayer Boot and Shoe Company, which at its peak produced over 9,000 shoes per day. F. Mayer Boot and Shoe Company was well known for it’s “Milwaukee oil grain goods,” said to be unrivaled for comfort, wearing quality, and ability to keep out wetness. Given Milwaukee’s proximity to fresh water, port access, and large volumes of livestock, it became one of the largest tanning producers in the world; access to these resources enabled the business to grow rapidly and the company’s complex grew to an entire city block.

“The F. Mayer Boot and Shoe Company represents one facet of the giant tanning industry which made Milwaukee a leader in the country,” notes the Wisconsin Historical Society.

While Frederick Mayer passed in 1897, his three sons continued to run the business. By 1910, the company had expanded operations to include a five-story building in Seattle to meet the demand along the West Coast and Alaska.

The business continued to operate out of Milwaukee until 1934 and remained in use for shoe manufacturing until 1938. Since that time many other firms have occupied it, from musicians to artists and even a daycare and Montessori school.