APPLETON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) Building in the National Register of Historic Places on November 4, 2024. The building was originally constructed in two phases, in 1952 and 1966, as the headquarters for the Aid Association for Lutherans in Appleton, Outagamie County.
The AAL Building is locally significant in the area of commerce for providing insurance since 1902, and social history as a fraternal benefit society that only served members of the Lutheran Synodical Conference. The organization provided death, illness, and injury insurance to Lutherans from Lutherans that aligned with the values of their faith and synod. AAL first occupied the site in 1923, when a new headquarters was constructed. Due to extensive growth, a new building was planned to be constructed in two phases in order to maintain local operations. The first phase was completed in 1952 and the second phase in 1966, creating a seamless façade as one large skyscraper. By 1977, the organization outgrew the original site as one of the nation’s top insurance providers and the world’s top fraternal benefit society. In 2002, AAL merged with its chief competitor Lutheran Brotherhood to form the company Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, known as Thrivent, which continues to operate in Appleton today.
The AAL building also displays architectural significance as one of the last known skyscrapers constructed in the Art Deco style and retains exceptional integrity. The original 1952 east block was designed by prominent Boston-based architects Cram & Ferguson, and the 1966 west corner addition by their successor firm Hoyle, Doran, and Berry. The building features an emphasis on verticality with stepped massing and organized window bays, combined with horizontal lines of the dramatic first floor overhang, use of polychrome materials, and a decorative marble lobby.
Additional information for the Aid Association for Lutherans Building is available at:
https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/NationalRegister/NR2808
To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit: https://wisconsinhistory.org/hp/register/
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
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. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.
