Streets of Marquette University: Wisconsin Avenue
Wisconsin is one of the Milwaukee’s original streets, first named Wisconsin Street in 1835. The street name switched to Grand Avenue in 1876. When Johnston Hall opened in 1906, Marquette University hailed from a Grand Avenue address. The city’s street renaming program brought back the Wisconsin name in 1926, rechristening the thoroughfare as Wisconsin Avenue.

Caption source: Milwaukee Streets: The Stories Behind Their Names by Carl Baehr. Part of the Streets of Marquette University photo series (1 of 7).

Streets of Marquette University: Numbered streets
From 10th to 19th, the numbered, north-south streets make wayfinding easier on the Marquette University campus. In the early 1960s, 13th, 14th and 15th Streets ran through the south half of campus. Over two decades, Marquette worked with the city to buy land, clear dilapidated buildings and close streets. In its place, Marquette built academic halls, pedestrian malls and lush landscapes south of Wisconsin Avenue.

Part of the Streets of Marquette University photo series (2 of 7).

Streets of Marquette University: Wells Street
Wells Street is named for early Milwaukee settler Daniel Wells, Jr. (1808-1902). Born in Maine, Wells invested heavily in young Milwaukee’s land and moved to the city in 1836. He served two terms as a U.S. Congressman from Wisconsin and dabbled in lumber, wool, grain, banking, insurance and railroads. Wells amassed a fortune, making him reportedly Wisconsin’s wealthiest man at the turn of the 20th century.

Caption source: Milwaukee Streets: The Stories Behind Their Names by Carl Baehr. Part of the Streets of Marquette University photo series (3 of 7).

Streets of Marquette University: Michigan Street
Michigan Street, formed in 1837, gets its name from Lake Michigan. Marquette Law School’s Eckstein Hall is located on 1215 W. Michigan St. The “1215” building address signifies the signing year of the Magna Carta.

Caption source: Milwaukee Streets: The Stories Behind Their Names by Carl Baehr. Part of the Streets of Marquette University photo series (4 of 7).

Streets of Marquette University: Kilbourn Avenue
Kilbourn Avenue bears the name of Byron Kilbourn (1801–1870), one of Milwaukee’s founders. Born in Connecticut, Kilbourn was a civil engineer seeking an emerging port city. He moved to Milwaukee in 1834 and helped transform its marshes into streets, sidewalks and bridges. Milwaukee renamed this street in 1929 to honor Kilbourn and his 34 years building up the city.

Source: Milwaukee Streets: The Stories Behind Their Names by Carl Baehr. Part of the Streets of Marquette University photo series (5 of 7).

Streets of Marquette University: Clybourn Street
Clybourn Street marks the south end of Marquette’s campus. The two-way street is named for a Chicagoan, Archibald Clybourn (1802-1872). Clybourn invested in Milwaukee real estate and owned a warehouse business in the city. Marquette University’s Gymnasium, built in 1922, faces Clybourn Street.

Source: Milwaukee Streets: The Stories Behind Their Names by Carl Baehr. Part of the Streets of Marquette University photo series (6 of 7).

Streets of Marquette University: Tory Hill Street
Named in 1965, Tory Hill Street connects Clybourn and Michigan Streets with a short road. Tory Hill honors the Irish neighborhood of the same name, lost to freeway construction in the 1960s. Eckstein Hall’s eatery, the Tory Hill Cafe, also reflects the Tory Hill name.

Caption source: Milwaukee Streets: The Stories Behind Their Names by Carl Baehr. Part of the Streets of Marquette University photo series (7 of 7).