Jackson Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
The cathedral of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, a cream-colored brick church near the lakefront that has served Wisconsin's Catholics since 1853.
Milwaukee's cathedral sits on Jackson Street, a few blocks from Lake Michigan. The original building went up in 1853, and the present structure — rebuilt and expanded over the decades — is a cream-colored brick church in a transitional Romanesque-to-Gothic style that fits the city's architectural character. The interior was significantly renovated after Vatican II and again in the early 2000s, giving it a clean, contemporary feel within the old shell. The baptismal font is a prominent feature near the entrance, and the sanctuary is arranged to draw the congregation close to the altar. Milwaukee was built by German, Polish, and Irish Catholics, and this cathedral has been the common ground where those communities meet.
Diocese: Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Style: Romanesque-Gothic Revival
What to See
The renovated interior is worth seeing as an example of how an older church can be adapted for contemporary liturgy without losing its character. The baptismal font makes a statement about baptism's importance that you feel as soon as you walk in.
Pilgrim Notes
Daily Mass is available. The cathedral is near the lakefront and downtown Milwaukee, walkable from many hotels. The Basilica of St. Josaphat, a few miles south, is a natural companion visit.