Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist

History & Significance

Cathedral · Est. Cornerstone laid 1847; dedicated 1852-1853

The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Built under the diocese's first bishop, John Martin Henni, its cornerstone was laid in 1847 and it was dedicated in 1852 (consecrated 1853), making it the first church in Wisconsin built specifically as a Catholic cathedral. Designed by architect Victor Schulte of cream city brick, it was gutted by fire in January 1935 and rebuilt by 1942. It serves as the episcopal see of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Zopfstil (German neoclassical) built of Wisconsin cream city brick, by architect Victor Schulte

• •Mother church and episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
• •Cornerstone laid December 5, 1847; dedicated 1852, consecrated 1853 by Bishop John Martin Henni
• •First church in Wisconsin built specifically as a Catholic cathedral
• •Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a designated Milwaukee Landmark
• •Gutted by fire in January 1935; rebuilt and completed by 1942