Things to do near“Bronze Fonz” by Gerald P. Sawyer

The "Bronze Fonz" by Gerald P. Sawyer was unveiled in 2008, a tribute to the character Arthur Fonzarelli from the long-running ABC sitcom Happy Days, which aired from 1974 to 1984 and was famously set in Milwaukee. Sculptor Gerald P. Sawyer rendered the figure with careful attention to the character's signature look: leather jacket, jeans, and the iconic double thumbs-up pose that became one of American television's most imitated gestures. The sculpture stands at roughly life size, positioned on the Riverwalk near Veteran's Park Drive, and was commissioned in part through community fundraising, reflecting genuine affection Milwaukee residents have for the show's connection to their city.

Visitors approach the piece from the paved Riverwalk path, which winds along the Milwaukee River through the heart of downtown, offering views of bridges, restored warehouse facades, and public art installations that make the walk itself a rewarding experience. The surrounding area has evolved considerably since the sculpture's installation, with restaurants, bars, and event spaces lining both banks of the river, giving the visit a lively urban atmosphere at most hours of the day.

The piece has become a reliable meeting point and a milestone stop on self-guided tours of Milwaukee's public art collection, which includes dozens of works spread across the city. For anyone interested in American pop culture, urban public art, or simply the texture of a Midwestern city that takes its local stories seriously, the "Bronze Fonz" by Gerald P. Sawyer offers a small but genuinely satisfying encounter with the intersection of place and memory.