Restored façade of historic Iron Block building unveiled

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- After 153 years, the historic Iron Block building has been returned to its original state.

The restored façade of the historic Iron Block building was unveiled on Monday, June 17th -- after 12 months of reconstructive work.

The building, on the corner of Wisconsin Ave. and Water St. in downtown Milwaukee, is an iconic structure that dates back to 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was president.

It was made from pre-fabricated cast iron pieces that were designed to look like ornate carved stone masonry and is believed to be the only remaining building with a cast iron facade in Wisconsin.

The building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974.

The building was originally decorated with thousands of iron pieces – lion heads, grape vines, scrollwork and molding. Foundries in Beloit and Milwaukee were tapped to fabricate new pieces that are identical to the ones on the building’s exterior when it was constructed in 1860.

When Dental Associates purchased the Iron Block in 2012, it committed to an extensive, historically accurate restoration of the façade.