Get to know the MPA Board
Tim Smith
- I’m a lifelong resident of the Milwaukee area. Growing up in a newer suburb of Milwaukee, I was always fond of driving into Milwaukee and seeing the city’s historic structures, whether it be the factories in the Menomonee Valley or the historic homes of the East Side. I also gained a better appreciation of Milwaukee’s architecture at a young age through a summer art class that focused on drawing Milwaukee’s historic buildings. While I never ended up pursuing my childhood dream of becoming in an architect, my love of local history and architecture continues through today, and I am excited to join the board of the Milwaukee Preservation Alliance to help with its mission of preserving Milwaukee’s historic structures.
1. What is your favorite book?
I gravitate toward history books, and John Gurda’s The Making of Milwaukee is a recent favorite.
2. What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
With a day job that involves mostly reading, writing, and thinking about abstract concepts, I enjoy doing anything more hands-on in my free time, whether it be gardening, woodworking, or taking on DIY projects around the house.
3. What is your favorite free time activity?
I love biking the Oak Leaf Trail, especially along the lakefront in the morning.
4. What is one of your favorite places in Milwaukee? Outside of Milwaukee?
In Milwaukee, boating on the Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers and seeing the transition from Milwaukee’s industrial past to modern day development. Outside of Milwaukee, a walkable and well-preserved medieval city, like Rothenburg in Germany or Assisi in Italy.
5. What inspires you and why?
I am always inspired when visiting historic sites like Greek or Roman temples or the Gothic cathedrals of Europe to witness the craftmanship, ingenuity, and foresight it took to create such grand structures that have survived the test of time and continue to inspire people today.
6. What do you see as the future of historic preservation?
It will be interesting to see how the definition of what is considered to be a “historic” structure shifts in the future, particularly for a city like Milwaukee that is relatively young with much of the surviving structures being from within the past century or so.
7. Why should people support MPA?
Milwaukee is a city that is rich with historic structures but has a not-too-distant history of ignoring the importance of historic preservation. However, there is a renewed appreciation today for preserving Milwaukee’s historic structures and doing a better job of showcasing our city’s heritage, and MPA plays a central and critical role in that mission.
I gravitate toward history books, and John Gurda’s The Making of Milwaukee is a recent favorite.
2. What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
With a day job that involves mostly reading, writing, and thinking about abstract concepts, I enjoy doing anything more hands-on in my free time, whether it be gardening, woodworking, or taking on DIY projects around the house.
3. What is your favorite free time activity?
I love biking the Oak Leaf Trail, especially along the lakefront in the morning.
4. What is one of your favorite places in Milwaukee? Outside of Milwaukee?
In Milwaukee, boating on the Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers and seeing the transition from Milwaukee’s industrial past to modern day development. Outside of Milwaukee, a walkable and well-preserved medieval city, like Rothenburg in Germany or Assisi in Italy.
5. What inspires you and why?
I am always inspired when visiting historic sites like Greek or Roman temples or the Gothic cathedrals of Europe to witness the craftmanship, ingenuity, and foresight it took to create such grand structures that have survived the test of time and continue to inspire people today.
6. What do you see as the future of historic preservation?
It will be interesting to see how the definition of what is considered to be a “historic” structure shifts in the future, particularly for a city like Milwaukee that is relatively young with much of the surviving structures being from within the past century or so.
7. Why should people support MPA?
Milwaukee is a city that is rich with historic structures but has a not-too-distant history of ignoring the importance of historic preservation. However, there is a renewed appreciation today for preserving Milwaukee’s historic structures and doing a better job of showcasing our city’s heritage, and MPA plays a central and critical role in that mission.
