Congregation Sons of Abraham Listed in the National Register of Historic Places

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Congregation Sons of Abraham was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 8, 2026. The house of worship was originally constructed in 1948 to blend into the existing residential neighborhood and has remained in continuous use.

The Congregation Sons of Abraham synagogue is a post-war house of worship designed during the Modern Movement. The congregation planned for a new building in the early 1940s, referred to as the shule, a Yiddish term for synagogue, or the center, reflecting its role as a community gathering place. It was constructed in 1948 by architects Boyum, Schuber and Sorenson with Theo Molzahn and Sons Inc. as the general contractor. Described as “modernistic” at its completion, the synagogue remains an outstanding example of the Modern Movement with flat-roofed cubic massing, exterior expanses of brick, and refined details. The interior character-defining features set it apart locally from Christian houses of worship as a well-defined synagogue property type.

It is the only extant synagogue in La Crosse, and the only Jewish house of worship located west of Madison and as far north as Eau Claire. It has long served the Jewish community, which was present with early settlers in 1845.

Additional information about Congregation Sons of Abraham is available.

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The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefitting the Wisconsin Historical Society and administers the membership program. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.