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Gates of Heaven Synagogue

A 200-ton 1863 synagogue rolled a mile through Madison to save it

Gates of Heaven Synagogue

Built in 1863 for 17 German-Jewish families, Gates of Heaven is Wisconsin’s oldest synagogue — a Rundbogenstil landmark of round arches and a rose window designed by August Kutzbock. Slated for demolition in 1971, it was instead jacked onto 96 aircraft wheels and towed by WWII tank retrievers over a mile to James Madison Park, a seven-hour crawl that crowds lined the streets to watch. It’s now a public event hall.

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