Westown in Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

MacArthur Square

Photographed by Paul F, May 3, 2010

1. MacArthur Square Marker

Inscription. MacArthur Square was designated on September 17, 1945 to honor General of the Army Douglas MacArthur for his leadership of Allied forces in the Pacific during World War II. MacArthur, his father General Arthur MacArthur, and his grandfather Judge Arthur MacArthur, were all residents of Milwaukee. Douglas lived at the Plankinton House and attended West Division High School. In 1898 he was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy by Milwaukee Congressman Theobald Otjen. Douglas MacArthur’s final visit here was on April 27, 1951, when he received an honorary degree from Marquette University and spoke at this site.

Erected 1979 by Wisconsin State Historical Society. (Marker Number 254.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1759.

Location. 43° 2.513′ N, 87° 55.384′ W. Marker is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is in Westown. It is on North 9th Street south of West State Street, on the left. It is located at the east-wall

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entrance to a city-owned parking structure at the North 9th Street tunnel. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Milwaukee WI 53233, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is 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: B'Ne Jeshurun Synagogue (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Milwaukee's Last Operating Tower Clock (approx. 0.2 miles away); Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Complex (approx. 0.2 miles away); Central Library (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic Milwaukee (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Historic Milwaukee (approx. ¼ mile away); Saint James Court (approx. ¼ mile away); Mabel Wanda Raimey (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milwaukee.

More about this marker.

Re-installed MacArthur Square Marker now located at the east wall of the North 9th Street tunnel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Fitzie Heimdahl, March 27, 2023

2. Re-installed MacArthur Square Marker now located at the east wall of the North 9th Street tunnel

The marker was originally located at about 43° 2.482′ N, 87° 55.32′ W at the base of the statue of Douglas MacArthur. See Photo No. 3. That old location can be reached from James Lovell Street, ¼ mile north of Wells. It was reinstalled at its current location in 2023 (see photo No. 2).

Additional commentary.
1. MacArthur Square Marker
This marker has been removed from MacArthur Square Park. The statue of MacArthur was moved to Veteran's Park down by the art museum on the lakefront in 2014. However, the marker is no longer mounted to the statue base and we have not found it on display anywhere else.

Editor's note: The marker was found and reinstalled in 2023 at an entrance to the underground parking garage.

— Submitted March 12, 2016, by Rebecca Ann Barton of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Photographed by Paul F, May 3, 2010

3. MacArthur Square Marker

Milwaukee County Courthouse is in the background. This is the original location of this marker. It has been relocated to the location now shown in Photo No. 2.

Douglas MacArthur Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul F, May 3, 2010

4. Douglas MacArthur Statue

Milwaukee Public Museum is in background, The marker was originally mounted on the back of the base.

1979 bronze by Robert L Dean, Jr. is 9¼ feet tall on a 4¾ foot marble base. It was funded by Mrs. Erwin C Uihlein.

Douglas MacArthur Statue and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul F, May 3, 2010

5. Douglas MacArthur Statue and Marker

Milwaukee Public Safety building in background, The marker is no longer on the base of this statue, and this statue is no longer in the park that bears his name.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 3,723 times since then and 170 times this year. Last updated on October 25, 2024, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Photos: 1. submitted on June 23, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on March 28, 2023, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 23, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.