Marquette University
1250 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53233
Just steps beyond downtown Milwaukee, Marquette University is one of the city’s foremost educational institutions, established in 1881. A Catholic–Jesuit university, it’s also one of the more prominent—and largest—private colleges in the United States. With more than 11,000 students and an endowment of nearly $1 billion, its legacy reaches across the globe.
The basics
The Society of Jesus established Marquette College—its original designation—in 1881; it became a full-fledged university in 1907. By 1909, it started admitting women, making it the first coeducational Catholic institution in the world. The present-day university is named after Father Jacques Marquette, a renowned missionary whose surname can be found across the Midwest (like the towns of Marquette, Iowa, and Marquette, Michigan). The campus is located near downtown Milwaukee, in the neighborhood of University Hill, not far from the shores of Lake Michigan.
Things to know before you go
The St. Joan of Arc Chapel is medieval and was reconstructed on campus using material from France. Tours are available.
Grab high views of the campus from the top of Sensenbrenner Hall.
Purple Door and Sweet Diner are two campus faves for breakfast and lunch.
How to get there
Marquette University is built for walking—you’re best off taking a rideshare or riding a bike to get here, and then adventuring around on foot. If you do have a vehicle you need to offload, there are paid parking lots in and around campus. It’s about a five-minute walk from downtown Milwaukee.
When to get there
When to explore Marquette University depends on what you’re looking for—if you’re a prospective student, be sure to come when class is in session, so you can see the neighborhood in its full undergrad glory. If you’re just looking to explore the neighborhood and get a feel for campus, summer can be nice (and quiet).
The best things to see on campus
One of the campus’ most notable landmarks is the Gothic-style Johnston Hall, which currently houses the university’s communications program. As the campus expands, it’s absorbing other city landmarks, like the M. Carpenter Tower, an Art Deco building built in the 1920s, and Mashuda Hall, a former hotel—which once housed The Beatles for a night during a 1964 tour.
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