MILWAUKEE – The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of Calvary Baptist Church in Milwaukee on the State Register of Historic Places. The building was designed in the Neo-Expressionism style and constructed at 2959 North Teutonia Avenue for Milwaukee’s oldest African American Baptist congregation.
Calvary Baptist Church was erected in 1971 and designed by prominent local architect William Wenzler. This nomination marks the first National Register listing originally designed by Wenzler. The building represents an unusual combination of the Neo-Expressionism style and traditional African building forms. The church features two masses grouped together and connected by a hyphen, evoking a small village or a traditional clan compound. The building exhibits an irregular shape with two tent-like roofs with low peaks and sweeping eaves that shelter uneven wall heights.
The church was designed for the oldest African American Baptist congregation in Milwaukee during a time of growing interest in African culture and history. The church design draws on building traditions of Cameroon in west-central Africa as well as Wenzler’s personal interest in the emerging Neo-Expressionism style. This church exemplifies a unique and modern architectural style and reflects the greater African cultural heritage of its local Black congregation.
The State Register is Wisconsin’s official list of state properties determined to be significant to Wisconsin’s heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society administers both the State Register and National Register in Wisconsin.
Additional information for the Calvary Baptist Church is available at: https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/NationalRegister/NR2854
To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit: www.wisconsinhistory.org.
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 www.wisconsinhistory.org.
