Johnston Hall (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Robert A. Johnston Hall
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Johnston Hall
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| Location | 1121 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Architect | Charles D. Crane |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000118 |
| Added to NRHP | January 16, 1986 |
Robert A. Johnston Hall, often called Johnston Hall, is a cool building in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It has a special design called Gothic-ornamented. This building is home to the J. William & Mary Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University. A Milwaukee architect named Charles D. Crane designed it. The building was finished in 1907 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's an important historical place!
Contents
History of Johnston Hall
How Marquette College Grew
Marquette College first started in 1881. Back then, it had just one four-story building. This building was on 10th and State streets. About 450 students studied there. As more and more students joined, the building became very crowded.
A Generous Gift for a New Building
By 1906, Marquette needed a bigger space. A kind person named Robert A. Johnston helped out. He was famous for his baking business. Mr. Johnston gave $100,000 to help Marquette build a new place. This new building would be close to Gesu Church on Wisconsin Avenue. When even more money was needed, Mr. Johnston gave that too! Because of his big help, the school decided to name the new building after him.
Opening and Early Days
The new Johnston Hall opened in 1907. It was ready for the Jesuit community at Marquette. This was just a few weeks before Robert Johnston passed away. At first, Johnston Hall held almost all of the university's departments. Only the medical department was in a different spot. The college students moved into the new building. The high school students, who were part of Marquette's prep school, stayed in the old building on State Street.
Home of Communication Studies
In 1975, the College of Journalism moved into Johnston Hall. Later, this college joined with other Marquette colleges. These included the Colleges of Speech, Performing Arts, and Communication. Together, they formed what is now the J. William & Mary Diederich College of Communication. Today, Marquette University Student Media also has its home in Johnston Hall. This is where student newspapers and other media projects happen.
A Bus Accident at the Hall
On May 15, 2018, something unusual happened. A Milwaukee County Transit System bus crashed into the west entrance of the building. This was on the north side of Johnston Hall. Luckily, no one inside the building was hurt. The bus driver and passengers were taken to the hospital. Their injuries were not serious.
