Historic Water Tower in Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Saint Mary's School of Nursing

formerly Saint Mary's Training School for Nurses

— 1894-1969 —

Saint Mary's School of Nursing Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lugnuts, May 7, 2016

1. Saint Mary's School of Nursing Marker

Inscription. Formal nurses training in the United States began in Boston in 1872. In 1888, the Women's Club of Wisconsin organized the Wisconsin Training School for Nurses patterned after the Bellevue School of Nursing in New York.

In 1894, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent dePaul launched Wisconsin's first private hospital organized training school for nurses at St. Mary's Hospital, Milwaukee. The two year curriculum was expanded to three in 1901 and a diploma awarded upon graduation. The school incorporated separately in 1912, became state accredited in 1913 and nationally accredited in 1940.

Affiliation with other institutions of learning began in 1924. The name was changed in 1932 to denote the transition from training to education.

Rising costs and growth of college degree programs brought voluntary dissolution in 1969 after graduating 1,913 nurses.

Erected 1972 by St. Mary's School of Nursing Alumnae. (Marker Number 186.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Science & Medicine • Women. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 43° 3.607′ N, 87° 52.737′ W. Marker is

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in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is in Historic Water Tower. It is on N. Terrace Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Located at the southeast quadrant of the original hospital building, next to the tower, close to the hospital driveway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2328 N Terrace Avenue, Milwaukee WI 53211, 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: Old North Point Water Tower (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Saint John's Infirmary (about 300 feet away); Milwaukee Harp Luminaire (about 400 feet away); Villa Terrace (approx. 0.2 miles away); North Point Light Station (approx. half a mile away); Milwaukee River Flushing Pump (approx. 0.6 miles away); Charles Allis House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Prehistoric Burial Mound (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milwaukee.

Other markers no longer nearby. North Point Lighthouse (was approx. half a mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Civil War Camp (was approx. ¾ mile away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Lugnuts, May 7, 2016

2. Saint Mary's School of Nursing Marker

Overview of the old St. Mary's Hospital with the subject marker in the foreground. To the left is the historic Water Tower and on the far end of the building is the St. John's Infirmary marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2016, by Lugnuts of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,975 times since then and 129 times this year. Last updated on July 27, 2016, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 30, 2016, by Lugnuts of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.