ISM History
The Muslim community in the Milwaukee area is a young, vibrant community. Although Muslims have resided in the Milwaukee area since the early 1900’s, facilities for daily Muslim prayer were not established until the 1970’s as the Muslim community in the area expanded and matured. The first facility that was established by the Islamic Society of Milwaukee (ISM) opened its doors in the summer of 1982 in a former Milwaukee Public School building known as New Road School.
Although there are no official demographic studies available that accurately define the population of Muslims, it is estimated that there are about 25,000 Muslims residing in Southeastern Wisconsin. This includes Muslims who were born and lived in the United States for decades as well as new refugee immigrants from Syria and Afghanistan who have been recently resettled in our community by the U.S. government.
1970 - First Organization for Muslims in the
Milwaukee Area
The first established organization for Muslims in the Milwaukee area appears to have been a “Muslim Students’ Association” chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee formed sometime between 1970 and 1972.
Although the Muslim community was quite small during the early 1970’s, the MSA and other members of the Muslim community of Milwaukee would try to organize Friday prayer services, Eid (holiday) prayers and educational programs. Student apartments were sometimes used for Friday congregational prayers. At other times, prayer services were held on the UWM or Marquette University campuses.
1976 - Islamic Association of Greater Milwaukee
The Islamic Association of Greater Milwaukee, Inc. (IAGM) was the first Muslim organization established in the Milwaukee area that was officially registered with the State of Wisconsin. The first official organizational meeting was held on on July 16, 1976. The IAGM began to organize functions for the Muslim community, including holiday arrangements and public lectures.
On December 2, 1976, the IAGM organized the first community holiday prayers held in the Milwaukee area. The holiday prayers (Eid ul Adha) were held at Holiday Inn, 1926 W. Wisconsin Avenue. A few days later, a community potluck dinner was held at the Kenwood United Methodist Church, 2319 E. Kenwood Blvd.
In August, 1979, the IAGM changed its name to Islamic Foundation of Greater Milwaukee, Inc. (IFGM).
1982 - Purchase of New
Road School
The number of Muslim students attending UWM increased substantially. Students came from a number of countries, including occupied Palestine, Jordan, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Libya, and other countries. The availability of the Kenwood United Methodist Church for Friday congregational prayers provided a stable, yet limited gathering place.
In 1982, the IFGM found that an old, closed elementary school known as New Road School was placed for sale by the Milwaukee Public School System. The IFGM, in cooperation with the Muslim Students and Community Association (MSCA), put an offer for the school which was the sole bid.
1992 - Salam School
A number of Muslims in the community had always displayed a strong desire to establish a full time Islamic School in Milwaukee. The purchase of the Islamic Center made this a more realistic possibility.
A full time school was established in 1992 and began with 25 students. Due to limited resources at the time, most of the staff were volunteers. By the end of the first academic year, the number of students doubled. By the end of the following year, the number of students had increased threefold.
1993-95 - ISM Expansion: Worship Area
By 1990, the Islamic Center was becoming inadequate to serve all of the community’s needs. Especially problematic was the fact that the Islamic Center was no longer able to accommodate the Friday prayer gatherings. An expansion project was launched in 1993 to create a large prayer hall, a prayer balcony, a large multipurpose hall and other smaller areas.
Groundbreaking took place in 1994 and the main prayer facility opened in October 1995. The Islamic Society of Milwaukee was able to complete the expansion, which included the addition of 24,000 square feet, using locally raised funds and no loans. The ISM also embarked on a major renovation project of the original school building replacing most mechanical systems. Also in 1995, the ISM hired its first full time Imam (religious leader).
2001 - ISM Expansion:
Gymnasium and Classrooms
As the number of students in Salam School continued to expand, the need for additional space became critical. At first, the school utilized trailers located in the parking lot of the school. This was regarded as clumsy and inefficient. As a result, the Muslim community decided to expand the existing building by adding new classrooms, a gymnasium, offices and other improvements.
This project, which cost over $1 million, was completed by 2001. Again, the entire project was funded by the generous donations of members of the community.
The Growth and Expansion of Salam School
To again accommodate the continued growth of Salam School, in 2008, the ISM purchased a 107,000 square foot building on 11 acres of land off of 8th and Layton, less than half a mile from the main Islamic Center. The ISM converted about 40,000 square feet of space into classrooms. There were additional expansions in 2019 and 2022, adding more classrooms, lunchrooms and other areas. This building currently houses all of Salam Elementary School.
A New High School Campus and Community Center
In the Spring of 2024, the ISM purchased an old theater building and other properties on about 25 acres of land in Franklin, Wisconsin to serve as our new Salam High School campus and a new community center. When complete, the new campus will, Inshallah (God willing), serve the entire Muslim community, including the community at large. The facility will include a 550 seat auditorium, a Masjid (prayer facility), an athletic facility and more.
Salam School has become a thriving, high performing Islamic school with over 1,400 students. During the 2024-2025 school year, Salam High School students completed about 170 AP Exams with a passage rate of 88%. This exceeds the Wisconsin and National averages! Salam School has also excelled in both, male and female sports programs. During the last two school years, the boys and girls basketball teams were conference champions in their WIAA (Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association) conference. Salam School is accredited by the North Central Association (NCA) and is a college bound school with almost one hundred percent of its students pursuing university degrees. The school provides a variety of extracurricular programs and in-school academic competitions (including Qur’an, Arabic and other competitions).
ISM Brookfield –
Masjid Al-Noor
16670 S. Pheasant Drive, Brookfield, WI 53005
In 2009 and 2010, the ISM purchased two parcels of land in Brookfield to construct a new Masjid (Mosque) for the Muslim community that was located in Brookfield and the western Suburbs. The ISM West Task Force organized a groundbreaking event with the community on July 12th, 2013, construction began near the end of July 2013 and was completed in January, 2015. A “10 Year Anniversary” Open House is planned in the fall of 2025. The ISM Brookfield Council is also exploring the possibility of expanding the facility in order to accommodate the continued growth of the Muslim community in the Brookfield and Waukesha areas.
ISM-University Center
2223 E. Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53203
In the early years after the Islamic Society was established as an organization, the largest group of Muslims residing in our community were students who attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and other area universities. In fact, for several years before the ISM purchased its own facility on the south side of Milwaukee, Friday prayer services for the Muslim community were held in the rented basement of the Kenwood United Methodist Church which was located directly across the street from the UWM Student Union.
As the Muslim community of Milwaukee continued to mature, the children and grandchildren of the early Muslim community members were enrolling at UWM and other area universities in larger numbers.
To accommodate the growing Muslim student population and to serve their needs, the ISM initially purchased several duplexes on Maryland Avenue. In 2015, a closed religious center across the street from the UWM Student was put up for sale. The ISM acquired the building and the facility opened for Muslim religious services in June, 2015. The facility is used for prayer services, for student gatherings and meetings, for study circles and much more. Significant renovations are planned for the facility in late summer and fall of 2025.
Expanding to Meet Community Needs
Today, the number attending all Friday services at our main ISM facility
exceeds 2,500 people. This is in addition to the attendees at our
Brookfield facility and University facility. This is also in addition to the
attendees of other Islamic Centers located in the Milwaukee area.
