Platteville in Grant County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
First State Normal School
Photographed By Gordon Govier, July 22, 2010
1. First State Normal School Marker
Inscription.
First State Normal School. . Wisconsin's first college devoted wholly to training teachers, the Platteville Normal School, opened here on October 9, 1866, in Rountree Hall, which since 1853 has housed its predecessor, the Platteville Academy. The Academy (1842-1866) had functioned largely as a private high school, preparing students for college and teaching. When in 1865 the legislature authorized the state to establish "normal" schools for the training of teachers, many cities offered proposals. Platteville Academy's trustees provided Rountree Hall, the community raised money, and Platteville Normal School opened with a 5-member faculty and 60 students. Two years later, General Ulysses S. Grant participated in the dedication of a new wing. Rountree Hall became the home of the Wisconsin Mining Trade School in 1907, and the Normal School moved to an adjacent site. In 1925 normal schools were converted to state teachers colleges and empowered to grant bachelor's degrees. In 1959, the Wisconsin State College-Platteville and the Wisconsin Institute of Technology merged and in 1971 became the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Wisconsin's first college devoted wholly to training teachers, the Platteville Normal School, opened here on October 9, 1866, in Rountree Hall, which since 1853 has housed its predecessor, the Platteville Academy. The Academy (1842-1866) had functioned largely as a private high school, preparing students for college and teaching. When in 1865 the legislature authorized the state to establish "normal" schools for the training of teachers, many cities offered proposals. Platteville Academy's trustees provided Rountree Hall, the community raised money, and Platteville Normal School opened with a 5-member faculty and 60 students. Two years later, General Ulysses S. Grant participated in the dedication of a new wing. Rountree Hall became the home of the Wisconsin Mining Trade School in 1907, and the Normal School moved to an adjacent site. In 1925 normal schools were converted to state teachers colleges and empowered to grant bachelor's degrees. In 1959, the Wisconsin State College-Platteville and the Wisconsin Institute of Technology merged and in 1971 became the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Erected 1985 by Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 276.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education
Location. 42° 44.093′ N, 90° 28.872′ W. Marker is in Platteville, Wisconsin, in Grant County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Elm Street, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Platteville WI 53818, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2010, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,227 times since then and 97 times this year. Last updated on July 28, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on July 24, 2010, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
