Milwaukee County War Memorial Center
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
The front facade of the center, showing the mosaic made by Edmund Lewandowski; a statue of Abraham Lincoln stands in the foreground
View of the memorial center and art museum building after its completion
Aerial view of the memorial center and museum building
More recent view of the memorial center and museum, with part of the most recent addition visible
September 11, 2001 Memorial, dedicated on the tenth anniversary of the attacks
View of the courtyard pool and two of the mosaics above it
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
After World War II, a professional women's group and another organization called the Milwaukee Civic Association spearheaded the drive to build a memorial center and art museum (in the same building), and a performing arts center. An organization called the Memorial Corporation collected the funds and hired Finish architect Eero Saarinen to design the entire complex, which can be seen in one of the accompanying photographs.
After seven years of debate about the location for the complex, the memorial center and art museum building was constructed in 1957 and dedicated “To Honor the Dead by Serving the Living.” The performing arts center was never built due to lack of funds. Over 70,000 individuals raised $2 million for the project. The center’s offices are located in the structure that rests on several piers, allowing for the public to visit the memorial court and enjoy the views the lake.
The court contains a reflecting pool with an eternal flame in it. Above the pool are four mosaic panels, designed by artists Edmund Lewandowski, depicting the insignias of the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy. In 1959, Lewandowski also constructed a large mosaic containing 1.4 million glass pieces that was installed on the western facade of the center. The mosaic shows Roman numerals that represent the beginning and end dates of World War II and the Korean War. In 1975, the Art Museum expanded its gallery spaces with an addition designed by David Kahler, which extended the museum towards the lake. The center is currently restoring the memorial courtyard.
Sources
"About the War Memorial Center." War Memorial Center. Accessed March 9, 2015. http://warmemorialcenter.org/about.