HISTORIC PLACES GUIDE

National Register of Historic Places

Schoonmaker Reef

Schoonmaker Reef is a historic place in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places on September 25, 1997, and designated a National Historic Landmark. Its National Register reference number is 97001266.

Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WisconsinListed September 25, 1997NRIS #97001266★ National Historic Landmark
Photograph of Schoonmaker Reef
Photo: Schoonmaker Reef via Wikimedia Commons — see the file page for author and license. Image source
Noir atlas

Location 01

Schoonmaker Reef

Drag to explore · scroll to zoom · select a marker

About this place

What is Schoonmaker Reef?

Schoonmaker Reef, also known as Wauwatosa Reef, Schoonmaker Quarry, Raphu Station or Francey Reef is a 425 million year-old fossilized reef in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. It was discovered in 1844 by Increase A. Lapham and Fisk Day on the site of a quarry owned by the Schoonmaker family. Geologist James Hall declared its significance in 1862. It was the first ancient reef described in North America, and among the first described in the world. It is located North of W. State St., between N. 66th St. and N. 64th St. extended, in Wauwatosa. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997.

Source: Wikipedia, text available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The record

Listing details

Name
Schoonmaker Reef
City
Milwaukee
County
Milwaukee County
State
Wisconsin
Listed on the National Register
September 25, 1997
NRIS reference number
97001266
Resource type
site
National Historic Landmark
Yes
Coordinates
43.04712, -87.99372
When was Schoonmaker Reef listed on the National Register?

Schoonmaker Reef was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 25, 1997.

Where is Schoonmaker Reef located?

Schoonmaker Reef is located in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin at approximately 43.04712, -87.99372. See the map above.

Is Schoonmaker Reef a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Schoonmaker Reef is designated a National Historic Landmark, the highest federal recognition for a historic place.

Nearby on the register

More historic places in Wisconsin