1852- Frederick Edward John Miller (born Nov.24,1824) came to America looking to start a business. The son of a Friedrichshafen Merchant and very well educated, Frederick spoke 7 languages and was very strong built. With $9000 and a dream his quest began.

1855- Despite being in the middle of a Cholera Plague Frederick Miller chose Milwaukee to start his business. Buying an old brewery, he soon founded the Plank Road Brewery and began by brewing only 300 barrels the first year.

Frederick Millers' beer became very popular and soon was brewing 4000 barrels per year. The construction of the Miller Gardens gave customers a place to bowl, dance, and eat. People came from miles around the drink Frederick Millers' beer and eat his wife's famous homemade bread.

1861- The Civil War put a damper on beer consumption forcing Frederick Miller to personally ship and deliver his beer to St. Louis by horse and wagon. He was no stranger to hard work and kept his business alive during these hard times.

Sometime after the Civil War caves were dug into the side of the hills to store his beer. Lined with brick and limestone, and stocked with ice to maintain a constant temperature beer was carried by hand in open barrels to the caves. Three of these cave still exist today.

1875- Frederick Miller Brewery employed approximately 20 men.

1888- Founder Frederick Edward John Miller dies. The brewery now producing 80,000 barrels per year is taken over by his eldest son Ernest Miller, his son-in-law Carl A. Miller and his two other sons Fred C. & Emil. He also had two daughters Elise K. John and Clara Miller.

1890- Electricity was installed at the brewery and lights were used for the very first time. Previously candles and lamps were use to illuminate the brewery and caves. This was also the first year beer was put into bottles, being filled by hand and capped with wire.

1903- Seeking to find the perfect name for their beer, the Miller Brewing Co. searched the country and finally found and bought the High Life Cigar Co. of New Orleans which was out of business. That was the beginning of Miller High Life Beer and the Miller High Life Girl.

1906- Miller Brewing Co. sponsored a contest to find a slogan for their High Life Beer and the winning entry was "The Champagne Of Bottled Beer".

1919- By the time Prohibition started in 1920 the Miller Brewing Co. was producing 500,000 barrels per year.

1920- Prohibition starts, beer production stops. The Miller High Life Co. was started and produced a wide variety of Malt Syrups, Carbonated Soft Drinks , and Cereal Beverages. This keep the brewery up and running during Prohibition.

1922- Earnest Miller dies and Frederick A. Miller takes over as president.

1933- Prohibition is Repealed...April 7, 1933... Miller High Life Beer produced again. Miller Brewing Co. celebrated by sending President Roosevelt seven bottles of Miller High Life Beer and gave free beer to thousands of happy customers. This also began the start of plant modernization for Miller Brewing.

1935- Cans were introduced to the brewing industry.

1939- WWII began and production was reduced due to the lack of quality material to brew quality beer. The majority of the beer produced during the war was sent to the Armed Services.

1943- Frederick A. Miller dies.

1945- A major expansion for the Miller Brewing Co. began with the construction of the Stockhouse F, New Brewhouse, Grain Elevator, Bottle House, Administration Building, Rathkeller for Visitors, Brewing Museum in Caves, and Warehouse. The total cost for this expansion was well over $12,500,000 project.

1947- Frederick C. Miller nephew of Frederick A. Miller moves from vise-president to president of the brewery. He was once an All American Tackle from Notre Dame University.

1954- Frederick C. Miller dies and is replaced by Norman R. Klug, the first president not related to the Miller family.

1955- By the year 1955 Miller Brewing Co. moved from 20th to 5th in sales.

1966- Family owned till 1966 the controlling interest of Miller Brewing Co. were bought by W.R.Grace & Company.

1969- Controlling interest of Miller Brewing Co. are now purchased by Phillip Morris Inc.