click zoom to display a high-res image
Property Location
Property Features
Built as the second headquarters of Northwestern Mutual Life.
Resurveyed for Milwaukee Downtown Connector Arch/History Survey, SHPO#10-0983, Prepared by Heritage Research (2010).
The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company began in Janesville in 1851, but moved to Milwaukee in 1859, in time becoming one of the country’s leading insurance companies. As it grew, each of its corporate home office locations featured Milwaukee’s best examples of prevailing architectural trends. This Romanesque Revival structure was Northwestern Mutual Life’s third corporate home, from 1886 until 1914. Its quality construction and use of luxurious materials mirrored its nationwide success.
"Outgrowing their Neo-Gothic offices at Broadway and Wisconsin Avenue, the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company constructed its second home office on this site, left vacant three years earlier by the tragic Newhall House fire. It was known as the New Insurance Building until the company's further expansion made necessary the construction of the present home office on East Wisconsin Avenue in 1912. In the lobby of 611 North Broadway one sees mosaic floors, marble columns, and bronze balustrades--all relics of an era when the emphasis was not on functional efficiency. The low round arches and roughly hewn masonry of the exterior announce its designer's familiarity with the buildings of H. H. Richardson. The versatile Mix had also drawn the plans for Northwestern Mutual's earlier, Neo-Gothic office building completed in 1870 and razed in 1965." Pagel, Mary Ellen & Virginia Palmer for the University of Wisconsin Extension Division, Guides to Historic Milwaukee: Juneautown Walking Tour, 1965.
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or notice some information on this property needs to be updated, reach out today!
Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
605-623 N. Broadway
73000083
Located in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company Building
1910
Home office building on street corner, built in classic temple style. Pedestrians are on the sidewalk, and there are two motorcars in front of the entrance. Caption reads: "New Home Office Buildin...
626 N BROADWAY(AKA 626-628 N BROADWAY)
41166
Located in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County
