Morgan Greene, “Reclaiming Queer Spaces: Neptune Club”
Mentor: Adam Thibodeaux, Architecture, Architecture & Urban Planning (School of)
Poster #76
In this study, I worked with a plethora of people to explore and document the architectural and cultural legacy of the former Neptune Club, located at 1100 E Kane Pl in Milwaukee, WI. Partnering with Michail Takach from the LGBTQ History Project, I gained invaluable insights into the neighborhood’s transformation during the 1970s and the pivotal role played by the queer community in shaping its character. With official building plans unavailable through city records, our research methodology relied on a comprehensive collection and analysis of archival materials, oral histories, on-site documents, interviews, and historical photographs. This multifaceted documentation process allowed us to reconstruct the layered history of the Neptune Club, uncovering narratives that have long been marginalized or erased from conventional accounts. By integrating current site conditions with historical data, the study reveals how queer populations adapted and appropriated existing architectural spaces to create culturally significant havens amidst a rapidly evolving urban landscape. Our approach not only highlights the building’s original design and function but also interrogates the socio-political forces that led to the subsequent obscuring of its legacy. This project contributes to ongoing research into the reclamation of architectural spaces by marginalized groups. It challenges dominant narratives by evidencing the tangible impact of queer communities on urban development and cultural memory in Milwaukee and explores how their narrative shapes the way others interpret the space. Ultimately, the study serves as a catalyst for further exploration into how similar spaces may be reinterpreted, preserved, and celebrated as integral parts of a city’s diverse heritage.