While “the Calatrava” has become an icon for the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM), there are various other notable monuments and landmarks located throughout Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A variety of public sculptures, monuments and landmarks are spread across the city, enabling residents and visitors to experience and interact with the many different attractions it contains.
Created by Mark di Suvero, “The Calling” was dedicated in 1982. Consisting of steel I-beams which the artist painted an orange-red color, the piece was a controversial addition but has become known as a Milwaukee landmark. Resembling a rising sun, the intent behind it can be experienced in a more profound way in the morning when the sun is rising.
Located in front of the War Memorial Center, the Abraham Lincoln Statue was dedicated in 1934. Debates about the placement of the piece continued for many years, causing it to change locations multiple times over the decades. In 1986, the monument was relocated right next to the War Memorial building that had once replaced it.
After making a home in the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge, “Gertie the Duck” would come to inspire Milwaukee and the entire nation during the dark days of World War II. A life-sized sculpture of Gertie and her ducklings appears on the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge and throughout the Riverwalk. Some have even ranked the sculptures in order of their cuteness, representing another means of connection and engagement.
The Letter Carriers’ Monument resides on a triangular plot at the confluence of multiple streets. Depicting three letter carriers, it was commissioned in celebration of the centennial of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). Each carrier represents a different era from across NALC’s history.
These are just a few of the obscure and outstanding monuments located throughout Milwaukee. With various landmarks containing multiple things to see and expereince, visitors are able to connect with the city and the monuments it contains on multiple levels, connecting the community in ways that are as profound as they are numerous.
