The Milwaukee Eagle was opened in the basement of the Sidney HiH building on November 22, 1997 (Quest 4-20 pgs 13-14+16), in a location which had previously held two other gay bars: first the disco 'Golden Shaft', and then the Unicorn, about 15 years previously (when Factory II/ Kisses was popular right across the river to the east).

The Eagle was a leather/levi bar with a dance floor, and was initially extremely popular. The bar often enforced a dress code requiring either leather or levi slacks and boots to enter. On Friday and Saturday nights the relatively large dance floor was packed with dancing half-naked men. During its approximately two years of peak business, the Eagle was also home to the largest area leather contests (Daddy's Boy, Mr. Leather, etc.)

The space was entered from the rear (north side) of the building, which at the time was butted almost up to the elevated eastside freeway-- so parking was between and around large concrete pylons, and the entrance was shadowy even during the day. The patron first descended a long stairway into a front room which held tables, electronic games, and 2 or 3 pool tables, then turned right (west) into the main bar area. Going farther west via either a doorway in the center of the bar area, or a dark "groping" passageway along the north wall, the visitor entered a large dance area, with a stage to the south and DJ booth to the north.

Farther back to the west, down about 6 stairs, was a second smaller bar room, which opened in February 1998 as 'The Golden Shaft Club' (harkening back to around 1983 when the space was briefly a gay bar and disco). The back bar's name was soon shortened to simply 'The Shaft', and required leather or levis for entry, and offered reduced price drinks with a membership card. This bar opened up to a small dark leather cruise area, with cage, sling, wall restraints, etc.

The bar however was on the opposite side of downtown from other gay bars, and after about two years of extremely high popularity, the bar went into decline. About the same time, the bar closed for about 6 months after a fire in the upper level of the building required the structure be closed for repairs due to water and smoke damage. Although the bar eventually reopened, it never attracted its previous crowds, and it closed on New Year's Day, 2000.

Later in 2000, the entire famously colorful 'Sidney HiH' building was repainted beige and put up for sale, and in 2002 the Park East freeway behind it was demolished, leaving the building standing alone in a multi-block area of parking lots (see photo to right). The Sidney Hih Building was razed in August 2012. It is recalled in this OnMilwaukee article.

(An article from "OnMilwaukee.com" dated November 2005 recalls "Milwaukee's Best Bars of Yesteryear", which includes The Unicorn bar at this same location. It reads: "Remember the dingy cave in the basement of the Sidney-HiH building? The Unicorn opened in 1984 and became Milwaukee's premiere underground venue as the '90s dawned. The dank club -- with numerous rooms -- offered incredible underground shows, including Nine Inch Nails before they got famous (anyone else at this show?) and Brand New Heavies.")