The Rave

The Rave is a multi-story concert venue in the former Fraternal Order of Eagles building on West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee. The main rooms include the Eagles Ballroom with a large stage and hardwood dance floor, the Rave Hall on the mezzanine level, and several smaller stages in the basement and ground floor that cater to different crowd sizes.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles built the structure in 1927 as a social headquarters with a ballroom and swimming pool. After it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, the facility gradually converted into a live music venue in the following decades.

The venue earned its informal name in the early 1990s when electronic music and alternative bands started playing there regularly. Today the entrance hall and corridors blend original arches and decorative details with colorful concert posters that tell the story of local and touring acts.

The different halls spread across staircases and long hallways, so arriving early helps you find your spot and settle in. Accessible entrances exist, but the multi-level layout means some routes require longer walks.

A disused swimming pool remains hidden in the basement and is no longer accessible to visitors. People report cold drafts and occasional chlorine smells in the stairwells, even though the pool has been dry for decades.