Memorial Hall, meeting hall in Racine, Wisconsin
Memorial Hall is a convention center in Racine, Wisconsin, built in the neoclassical style with four Corinthian columns and limestone exterior walls. Inside, it features a large auditorium with over 1000 seats arranged across two levels, alongside smaller rooms used for meetings and gatherings of different types.
The cornerstone was laid in 1924 as a memorial to those who died in World War I, with the dedication ceremony held one year later. The building was donated to the city by William Horlick, a local businessman and malted milk inventor, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The name reflects its original purpose as a memorial to those who died in wars, with the inscription 'The Noblest Motive is the Public Good' visible above the doors. Today it functions as a gathering place for community celebrations, concerts, and festivals where visitors experience the building's connection to local pride and remembrance.
The building sits on a hill above Lake Michigan, making it visible from a distance and easy to locate in downtown Racine. The grand entrance with wide steps and spacious interior layout allows for convenient movement throughout the venue during events.
The building was donated to the city by William Horlick, the inventor of malted milk, making it a gift from a local industrialist whose name is more commonly associated with a popular beverage. This connection links the memorial to an unexpected chapter of Racine's business history.
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