Bronze Fonz

The Bronze Fonz is a life-size bronze sculpture on the Milwaukee Riverwalk that shows a figure in a leather jacket with raised thumbs. The statue stands on a low base near the riverbank and is surrounded by a paved walkway that runs along the water.

Visit Milwaukee collected donations in 2008 to place this bronze figure along the riverbank. The idea came about because the television series Happy Days was set in Milwaukee and the city became connected with the character Fonzie.

The figure recalls Arthur Fonzarelli from the television series Happy Days, which takes place in Milwaukee and shows life in the 1950s. Visitors often stand next to the statue and copy the gesture while passersby stop to take photos.

The sculpture stands south of Wells Street on the Riverwalk and is freely accessible to walkers traveling along the river. The paved path offers enough space to stop and take photos without blocking other pedestrians.

The artist worked the initials of Henry Winkler and his wife into the veins of the bronze casting, visible in the hands of the figure. Few visitors notice this personal tribute to the actor who played the role of Fonzie.

Location: Milwaukee

Inception: 2008

Creator: Gerald P. Sawyer

Made from material: bronze

GPS coordinates: 43.04038,-87.91099

Latest update: December 20, 2025 15:57