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Home Building a Campus The John Plankinton Mansion, as seen from West Wisconsin Avenue during its early years

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The John Plankinton Mansion, as seen from West Wisconsin Avenue during its early years

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Title	The John Plankinton Mansion, as seen from West Wisconsin Avenue during its early years
Description	The John Plankinton Mansion, as seen from West Wisconsin Avenue during its early years before it came to be surrounded by the Marquette University campus.
Building Name	John Plankinton Mansion, Marquette University
Previous Names	College of Music College of Speech School of Speech James Rogers Home
Architect/Builder	Nash, Albert C.
Construction Date(s)	1856
Purchase Date	1918
Destruction Date	1975
Style/Period	Italianate
Other Building Information	The John Plankinton mansion was originally built by James Rogers in 1856. Upon his death, John Plankinton acquired the home in 1863, did extensive remodeling and brought the value of the home up to $200,000. The mansion was known as “the most expensive and elegant private residence in Milwaukee if not the entire Northwest”. John Plankinton made his fortune in the meatpacking business and was also involved with many philanthropic organizations in the Milwaukee community. He had two children, William and Elizabeth, whom he also built homes for. Mr. Plankinton lived in the home from 1865 until his death in 1891. William’s mansion was right next door and Elizabeth’s was across Wisconsin Avenue. The John Plankinton home, along with William’s and seven acres of land, were all sold to Marquette University in 1918 on the condition that they should be destroyed by 1920. However, the university found a loophole in the contract and was able to keep and utilize both mansions. John Plankinton’s mansion became first, Marquette University’s College of Music and in later years, the College of Speech. The mansion included many spectacular features such as bamboo trimmed paneling and other elaborate woodwork, a mahogany elevator, stained glass windows, marble floors, gold plated doorknobs and tremendous crystal chandeliers. These features at one time made the mansion the grandest residence in Milwaukee. The outdoors featured a seven acre landscaped park and a fountain guarded by lions, in front of the home, where Marquette University’s engineering building now stands. The John Plankinton mansion was demolished by Marquette University, in 1975, to make way for the school’s campus expansion plan.
Named For	John Plankinton
Subjects	Academic buildings Architecture -- Wisconsin -- Milwaukee College buildings -- Wisconsin -- Milwaukee College campuses -- Wisconsin -- Milwaukee Historic buildings --Wisconsin -- Milwaukee Marquette University -- Buildings Universities and colleges -- Wisconsin -- Milwaukee
Collection	Slide Collection - File 01116 - Plankinton Building (A-4.5, Series 13, Box 36)
Physical Description	35 mm color slide
Identifier	MUA_CB_02172
Digital Reproduction Information	Scanned as RGB in transparency mode with Epson Expression 10000XL at 2400 DPI. Display image is jpeg generated from archival TIFF file.
Copyright	This image is issued by Marquette University. Use of the image requires written permission from the staff of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives. It may not be sold, or redistributed, copied or distributed as a photograph, electronic file, or any other media. The image should not be significantly altered through conventional or electronic means. Images altered beyond standard cropping and resizing require further negotiation with a staff member. The user is responsible for all issues of copyright. Please credit: Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Marquette University Libraries.
Ordering Information	For more information about obtaining reproductions of this and other images, please visit: http://www.marquette.edu/library/archives/OrderForm.shtml

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