National Register of Historic Places

Old Synagogue

Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin
Listed
December 28, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
70000030

About this property

The Gates of Heaven Synagogue, also known as the Old Synagogue, is a historic synagogue in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, designed by German immigrant architect August Kutzbock and constructed in 1863 for the Gates of Heaven congregation. The congregation that commissioned the synagogue was a group of 17 German-speaking Jewish families that met within the building until financial difficulties obliged them to rent it to numerous tenants from 1879, until finally selling the building in 1916. The synagogue was then sold to a succession of owners, and was at various times a dentist's office, a funeral home, and the office of US Congressman Robert Kastenmeier. In 1970, the synagogue was set to be demolished, but was spared for concerned members of the community to raise money to move the synagogue to a new site. The synagogue was moved to James Madison Park in July 1971 after a fundraising effort supported by the citizens of Madison, the Taychopera Foundation historical preservation fund, and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Gates of Heaven Synagogue is one of the oldest synagogues in the United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 29, 1970. It now serves as an event venue, although it continues to host Jewish ceremonies and High Holy Days services.

Location

Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin
43.07308, -89.38664

Categories

RELIGION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Hotel Loraine
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0 mi
Grace Episcopal Church
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0.1 mi
Madison Vocational School (Additional Documentation)
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Jackman Building
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0.1 mi
Baskerville Apartment Building
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0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Wisconsin — Civil War Mutiny — 14th Wisconsin Infantry
1862Civil War
0.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old Synagogue listed on the National Register?

Old Synagogue was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 28, 1970.

What type of historic resource is Old Synagogue?

Old Synagogue is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Old Synagogue?

The period of significance for Old Synagogue is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Old Synagogue?

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