By Jeff Sherman OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer Published Nov 14, 2008 at 10:15 AM

The Miller Visitor Center and its historic Caves on State Street recently underwent a $1 million makeover. We have some of the first pictures of the updates in the gallery above.

To showcase updates, the Visitor Center is extending its normal hours on Friday and Saturday this weekend. Free hour-long tours will be available every half hour from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (the center usually closes at 5 p.m.)

If you are over 21 years of age, you get to, of course, sample product, including the new Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown at the completion of tours in the Miller Inn.

The historic Miller Caves, at 60 feet below ground level, were created in 1849 to keep beer cool prior to distribution. In a new cave tour video, the ghost of Frederick Miller emerges from a mural on the wall to explain the use of the caves in the beer-making process.

Other improvements to the Caves include renovations to the King Gambrinus fountain, an homage to the patron saint of beer, and improved acoustics.

Visitor Center improvements:

• New historical timeline and photos on walls
• Signature photo wall as a backdrop for souvenir photos
• New bar and sampling station
• Welcome desk and counters made of recycled beer bottle glass
• Enclosure and addition of Miller Lite motorcycle

MillerCoors hosts more than 115,000 guests at the Milwaukee brewing facility annually. The regular free one-hour tour is offered six days a week and includes stops at the Visitor Center for an introductory film, a walking tour to view the brewing process, a presentation in the historic Miller Caves and concludes with a visit to the Miller Inn or Beer Garden.

Jeff Sherman OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer

A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.

He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.

Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.  He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.  

He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.

He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.