St. Mary’s Academy and College placed on the State Register of Historic Places

The Wisconsin Historical Society placed St. Mary’s Academy and College, in Prairie du Chien, on the State Register of Historic Places on May 19.

St. Mary’s Academy and College was significant as an all-female Catholic school between 1872 and 1961. St. Mary’s was one of the only Catholic girls’ schools operating in the region during the late 19th century and drew students from throughout the Midwest, particularly Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois. In 1913, the school became the first four-year Catholic college for women established in Wisconsin. St. Mary’s College relocated to Milwaukee in 1929 (with the new name Mount Mary College), but the complex in Prairie du Chien continued to serve as a preparatory high school for girls until 1961.

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.

To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.