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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 1046 N 9TH ST |
|---|---|
| County | Milwaukee |
| City/Village | Milwaukee |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1878 |
|---|---|
| Additions | 1880 |
| Survey Date | 1984 |
| Historic Use | house of worship |
| Architectural Style | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Cream Brick |
| Architect | Frederick Velguth |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. THIS CHURCH IS THE "MOTHER" CHURCH OF LUTHERANISM IN MILWAUKEE; CONGREGATION WAS FORMED IN 1847. HABS WI-273. With its impressive brickwork and stone trim outside, and its ornate woodwork inside, Trinity was heralded as the "finest church edifice within the Missouri Synod" soon after its consecration. Two towers of uneven height dominate the west (Ninth Street) facade. Real Medieval churches commonly built towers only when money became available, so style could show when a second tower was built. Trinity's faceted spires reappear in the pinnacles of the sounding board, capping this beautiful display of woodworking. The design may have been borrowed from a similar pulpit in Germany's Wartburg Chapel, where Martin Luther took refuge in the sixteenth century. The church was damaged by fire on 5/15/2018. "Trinity is one of the most remarkable Lutheran churches built in America during the 1870s. Its design blazed new ground with its superlative combination of the American High Victorian Gothic features and traditional German Gothic forms. Built of Milwaukee cream brick and trimmed with Illinois sandstone and extensive ornamental sheet metal, it was justly called the "finest Lutheran church edifice within the Missouri Synod," when it opened. The highly ornamented brick work found on the exterior walls of the church is characteristic of late medieval church architecture found in Northern Germany where many of Trinity's members had been born. where the side walls meet the roof, for example, the brick is laid in a repeated pattern of small, pointed arches, called a corbel table frieze, which was common among German Gothic and Romanesque style brick religious buildings. The crown-like gables that encircle the tops of the towers are also part of a building tradition strongly associated with the Germans. A visit to the interior is essential in order to fully appreciate the remarkable craftsmanship on this structure which contains some of the most outstanding church woodwork of its era. At the base of the staircase in the larger tower, for example, the huge newel post is a flamboyant example of the American High Victorian Gothic style exuberantly executed in the bold style preferred by Trinity's German-born architect and patrons. The focal points of the church auditorium are its magnificent natural wood altar and the raised, goblet-shaped pulpit. The pulpit which is topped with a carved wooden sounding board, was described in the 1880s as a "monument to the woodworkers' art," and its design is believed to be based on a similar pulpit in Germany's famous Wartburg chapel where Martin Luther, the founder of Lutheranism, took refuge in the sixteenth century. The pulpit is reached by a splendid curved staircase that ranks among the finest wooden features in American church architecture. Trinity church marked the high-point in the design career of its German-born architect, Frederick Velguth. He first established himself as a master carpenter and contractor before moving on to become an architect who designed many fine buildings in the city, including Christ Church at 2235 West Greenfield Avenue. Trinity is the second oldest oldest Lutheran congregation in the city. It was founded in 1847 by a group of Germans from Pomerania, now part of northeastern Germany and western Poland. The early congregation included some of the most prominent German-American business and professional figures in the city, including Captain Frederick Pabst whose Pabst Brewing Co. complex is located across the street from the church. Today, the socially and ethnically diverse congregation takes great pride in their church building which is both a local and national landmark." MILWAUKEE ETHNIC CHURCH TOUR, CITY OF MILWAUKEE DEPARTMENT OF CITY DEVELOPMENT, 1994. 2026 - This church suffered extensive damage by fire in 2018. The congregation decided to raise money to restore the building. In 2026, the work is not yet complete. |
| Bibliographic References | THE HISTORIC NAME, DATE OF CONSTRUCTION, AND ARCHITECT ARE FROM THE NR NOMINATION. MILWAUKEE ETHNIC CHURCH TOUR, CITY OF MILWAUKEE DEPARTMENT OF CITY DEVELOPMENT, 1994. BUILT IN MILWAUKEE, LANDSCAPE RESEARCH, P. 133, P. 138. HOUSE OF WORSHIP. Buildings of Wisconsin manuscript. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2018/05/15/historic-downtown-milwaukee-church-engulfed-flames/613124002/ Pagel, Mary Ellen & Virginia A Palmer, University Extension The University of Wisconsin, Guides to Historic Milwaukee: Kilbourntown Walking Tour, 1967. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | May 08, 1979 |
| State Register Listing Date | Jan 01, 1989 |
| Contributing |
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.
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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.
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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.
National or State Regi...
9113 State HWY 108
100009482
Located in Town of Farmington, La Crosse County
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