Building Info

Wisconsin Gas Light Building, seen from atop the Pfister.
  • Address:
    626 E. Wisconsin Ave.
  • Taxkeys:
    3920923111, 3920923110
  • Architect:
    Eschweiler & Eschweiler
  • Architectural Style:
    Art Deco
  • Status:
  • Assessed Value (Land):
    $3,956,400
  • Assessed Value (Improvements):
    $13,222,800
  • Assessed Value (Total):
    $17,179,200
  • Assesment Year:
    2020
  • Year Built:
  • Size:
    151,930 sq-ft

The Wisconsin Gas Building is a historic office building in Downtown Milwaukee. The building is sometimes referred to as the Milwaukee Gas Light Company Building. It is a well-known building for its weather flame on top, which signals the expected change in temperature tomorrow.

A common saying is used to understand what the flame is indicating…

When the flame is red, it’s warm weather ahead!
When the flame is gold, watch out for cold!
When the flame is blue, there’s no change in view!
When there’s a flickering flame, expect snow or rain!

From Guides to Historic Milwaukee: Juneautown Walking Tour by Mary Ellen Pagel and Virginia Palmer (1965)…

This is an excellent example of the cubical architectural forms, ornamented with stylized, geometrical motifs popular in America during the 1920’s and 1930’s. The weather flame atop the Milwaukee Gas Light Company is visible for several miles after dark. For passersby on the street, the company has placed an identical flame in the lobby. A gold flame forecasts cold or cooler weather; read means hot or warmer; blue indicates no change; flashing forecasts precipitation.

The building features a 213-stall parking garage that was built in 2003.

Photos

Activity

IDDateTypeDescription
PWEU-19-026182019/10/10Permit
ROW Excavation Utility
PWEU-19-026062019/10/08Permit
ROW Excavation Utility
COM-ALT-19-002402019/04/11Permit
Commercial Alteration Permit
COM-ALT-18-007982018/09/29Permit
Commercial Alteration Permit
PWOP-17-011482017/08/17Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
HVAC-GEN-17-018662017/06/27Permit
HVAC General Permit.
ELEC-17-030022017/05/23Permit
Electrical Permit.
COM-ALT-17-000032017/01/25Permit
Commercial Alteration Permit.
ELEC-16-004482016/10/25Permit
Electrical Permit.
ELEV-16-000012016/10/25Permit
Elevator Permit.
IDDateDescriptionType

Content referencing Wisconsin Gas Building

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Rarely-seen views from the 1920s Art Deco building. But alas, we couldn't get inside the flame.

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Building data on this page, including assessment information, was last updated on January 1, 1970

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