Property Record
800 BLOCK OF W WISCONSIN AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Grand Avenue Park |
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| Other Name: | Court of Honor |
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| Reference Number: | 118214 |
| Location (Address): | 800 BLOCK OF W WISCONSIN AVE |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
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| Year Built: | 1874 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2001 |
| Historic Use: | park |
| Architectural Style: | NA (unknown or not a building) |
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| Demolished?: | Yes |
| Demolished Date: | 0 |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | Demolished prior to 2010 The City of Milwaukee created Grand Avenue Park along this stretch of W. Wisconsin Avenue in 1874. In 1885, meatpacking heiress Elizabeth Plankinton donated $20,000 to pay for its first public monument, an Italian casting of Richard Hamilton Park’s bronze statue, George Washington. When the Panic of 1893 forced Alexander Mitchell’s son Sen. John Mitchell to renege on his promise to fund a Civil War memorial, art patron and longtime Soldiers' Aid Society leader Lydia Ely Hewitt raised funds for The Victorious Charge, designed by John Severinus Conway, which was added in 1898 to celebrate Wisconsin’s 50th statehood anniversary. In 1900, architect Alfred Clas’ 65-foot tall limestone design, The Midsummer Column, joined the assemblage to coincide with Milwaukee’s Midsummer Carnival. Spanish-American War veterans donated A. Koenig’s To Those who Served in the War with Spain 1898-1902, erected at Grand Avenue Park’s west end in 1932 and moved to its current location in 1963. 2001- "Located on Wisconsin Avenue between North 8th and 10th Streets, this approximately 28' wide landscaped median contains four statues mounted on stone pedestals. The median was originally wider and longer; once stretching west to North 11th Street. Increased traffic demands on Wisconsin Avenue diminished its width and the construction of lnterstate-43 in the mid-1960s caused the removal of the section between North 10th and 11th Streets. A 1967 publication notes that the median has been "compressed to a third its original size." Its current configuration of statuary is also a result of the freeway construction. Both the Spanish-American War Memorial, originally located by North 11th Street, and The Victorious Charge (Soldiers' Monument), originally located in the middle of the Wisconsin Avenue and North 10th Street intersection, were moved to their current locations in 1963. Originally designated for public use in 1874 as Grand Avenue Park, the site received its first monument in 1885 with the installation of the George Washington statue. This was the first public monument erected in Milwaukee and a crowd of thousands attended the dedication ceremony. As a result of the statue's installation, the park began to be alternately referred to as either Washington Park, Washington Square or Monument Square. Additional monuments followed, including The Victorious Charge (Soldiers' Monument) in 1898 and the Midsummer Carnival Column in 1900. This latter monument commemorated Milwaukee's Midsummer Carnival, which was celebrated annually from 1898-1901. The carnival featured band concerts, fireworks and costumed pageants with the subject park serving as the starting point for parades and other festivities. It also marked the site where Rex, King of the Carnival, was crowned. The crowning ceremony kicked off the festivities and, for the remainder of the carnival, Rex reigned over the celebrations from his "court" thus, the name Court of Honor. The site was also the location of other civic celebrations including the city's Christmas tree lighting ceremony from 1911-1960, which was later moved to MacArthur Square due to increased traffic and limited space around the Court of Honor." - "Marquette Interchange, Milwaukee", WisDOT ID #1060-05-02, Prepared by Heritage Research (McQuillen) (2001). |
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| Bibliographic References: | Sotirin, Of Kings and Heroes. Best of Wisconsin manuscript. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |