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

St. Mark AME Church

Photographed by Mallory Hanson, October 11, 2026

1. St. Mark AME Church Marker

Inscription. St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the oldest historically Black congregation in Milwaukee, has served as a cornerstone of Milwaukee’s Black community since its founding in 1869. Organized by a group of community leaders that included Ezekiel Gillespie—who sued the State to secure the right for African American men to vote in Wisconsin in 1866—members met in rented rooms for several years before moving into a church at 4th St. and Kilbourne Ave. in 1887. The congregation spent 43 years there, its membership growing during the Great Migration. The church became the center of religious, civic, and cultural life for the Black community. Its members have played significant roles in the Civil Rights Movement and leadership of Milwaukee’s Black community from its current location at 1616 W. Atkinson Ave. since 1969.

Erected 2026 by Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum; Wisconsin Historical Society; funded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. (Marker Number 644.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, and the Wisconsin Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 43° 5.249′ N, 87° 55.877′ W. Marker is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is in Arlington Heights. It is on West Atkinson Avenue west of North 16th Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1616 W Atkinson Ave, Milwaukee WI 53206, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in

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North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: In Honor of the Men and Women of the 25th Ward (approx. half a mile away); Garden Homes (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named Garden Homes (approx. one mile away); Borchert Field / The Milwaukee Bears (approx. 1.2 miles away); Green Bay Road (approx. 1.2 miles away); St. Boniface Catholic Church (approx. 1½ miles away); Kilbourntown House (approx. 1.7 miles away); Rally at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milwaukee.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2026, by Mallory Hanson of Madison, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on October 21, 2026, by Mallory Hanson of Madison, Wisconsin. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide shot of the marker in context • Can you help?