Look ahead for a striking red brick building with a grand set of steps and a large greenish dome perched on four tall pillars-that’s your landmark!
All right, traveler, picture yourself in 1929, standing in front of what looks a bit like a Roman temple that got a Wisconsin makeover! This neoclassical beauty was designed by Frank M. Riley-Madison’s go-to architect for anything grand, including the governor’s mansion. The First Church of Christ, Scientist was the pride of Wisconsin Avenue, back when this street was basically “Church Row”-because apparently, you could say your prayers and spot your neighbor’s hat collection all from the same sidewalk!
Now, the congregation’s early days were humble-think cozy living rooms, spirited discussions, and a game of "musical chairs" between the Gates of Heaven Synagogue and the Women’s Building, as they bounced around seeking the perfect spot. By 1912, they scored a coveted piece of land, which had once belonged to a Supreme Court Justice. For years, they met and dreamed, even splitting in two for a little while, before love (and maybe the lack of enough casseroles at potlucks?) brought them back together in 1927.
Once united, their patience paid off and this glorious church rose up-complete with a domed roof, huge Doric columns, and a red brick-and-limestone mix that screamed “dignified, but not too flashy.” With space for 850 people and opera-like walnut seats, let’s just say it was built for both the soul and the backside! Downstairs, you’d find a bustling Sunday School and, above, a peaceful reading room tucked beneath the dome, like a secret library for quiet minds.
The real cherry on top? In 1982, this little slice of history was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, there’s a twist-the only prayers here now are likely to the marketing gods, since an ad agency occupies the building. But if you listen closely, maybe you’ll still hear echoes of old hymns or the creak of polished church shoes on terrazzo floors.
