Lake Geneva in Walworth County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Lake Geneva Seminary

(For Young Ladies)

Photographed by Sean Flynn, February 19, 2024

1. The Lake Geneva Seminary Marker

Inscription. At the crest of the hill in this park overlooking Geneva Lake, the Lake Geneva Seminary (For Young Ladies) was built for its founder, Anna W. Moody, in December 1867. It served as a preparatory school for young women for almost three decades. In 1895, the City of Lake Geneva purchased the seminary building for use as the city's high school. It was demolished in 1906. The site, originally named Oak Park, was renamed Seminary Park in honor of the Lake Geneva Seminary.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Parks & Recreational Areas • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.

Location. 42° 35.293′ N, 88° 25.911′ W. Marker is in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in Walworth County. It is on Baker Street east of Wrigley Drive, on the right when traveling west. The marker is in the southwestern corner of Seminary Park, a short walk from the Bella Vista Suites. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake Geneva WI 53147, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is

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also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Andy Gump (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Whiting House & Hotel Geneva (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Old Mill Race (approx. ¼ mile away); The Riviera (approx. ¼ mile away); Wisconsin Power & Light Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Main Street Historic District (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Main Street Historic District (approx. 0.3 miles away); Historic Lake Geneva (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake Geneva.

Regarding The Lake Geneva Seminary. According to her obituary in the Lake Geneva Herald and a brief biography in a book on Wisconsin's pioneer women preserved by the University of Wisconsin, Anna W. Moody was born in Massachusetts in 1830 and graduated from Mount Holyoke Seminary

The Lake Geneva Seminary Marker and Seminary Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, February 19, 2024

2. The Lake Geneva Seminary Marker and Seminary Park

(now College) before moving to Lake Geneva in 1859 to establish a school. The seminary at this site was built for more than $7,000, according to the article, and as many as 150 students attended the school at one time. She later taught at the University of Wisconsin when the school became coeducational, and also taught in Whitewater and Oshkosh. In 1882, she married a Lake Geneva-area widower named David Flack and settled with him in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, about 10 miles northwest of Lake Geneva. David died in about 1893, and Anna died on October 1, 1909. She is buried in Elkhorn.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, February 19, 2024

3. The Lake Geneva Seminary Marker

Geneva Lake can be seen in the background.

The Lake Geneva Seminary image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, February 19, 2024

4. The Lake Geneva Seminary

A close-up of the historical photo and map printed on this marker.

"Bird's eye view of Lake Geneva, Walworth Co., Wis. 1882" image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, circa 1882

5. "Bird's eye view of Lake Geneva, Walworth Co., Wis. 1882"

A drawing of the Lake Geneva Seminary is featured on this 1882 map of Lake Geneva in the upper right corner. And the building, with its spire, is also fairly easy to spot on the map itself in the bottom left.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 600 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on February 19, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.