The campus consists of 22 buildings, including a library that has over 58,000 volumes and a collection of rare pre-18th century theological books.

The origins of the school date to 1863, when the main sources of clergy in the Wisconsin Synod were the mission societies in Germany.

Wisconsin was to send students to St. Louis, provide a professor, and contribute financial support for Concordia.

[citation needed] Two small houses were rented at the corner of Hubbard Street and Garfield Avenue and served as the school's campus for two years.

The seminary board authorized the purchase of a small nearby park at 13th and Vine streets to serve as the new campus.

Because the increasing number of seminarians outgrew the 13th Street facility, a new seminary campus was opened in 1893 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, with 31 students.

The first floor held two classrooms, a chapel, a faculty lounge, several study rooms, and a restroom in each of the two wings.

Seminary professor John Philip Koehler was given charge of the general design, incorporating the style and features of the Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, Germany.

With large trees, expansive grassy fields, woods, a stream, and a small holding pond, the campus resembles a park.

The original chapel was quite plain and did not contain any pews, musical instruments, art glass windows, or even a pulpit and altar.

Unfortunately, the low ceiling and small amount of natural light detracted greatly from the atmosphere.

The renovation, funded primarily by special gifts, began in 2004 and took a full year to complete.

The new chapel design features large, clear windows to allow natural light to pour into the room.

Dark stone tile floors contrast with the white paint on the walls and ceiling.

[4] The Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary library houses over 58,000 books, almost all on the subject of theology and the Bible.