Dominican Sisters of Racine Siena Center

The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Dominic of St. Catherine of Siena was founded in Racine, Wisconsin, by Mother Benedicta Bauer and Mother Thomasina Ginker in 1862. Mothers Bauer and Ginker left Heilig Kreuz monastery in Regensburg, Bavaria, to found congregations charged with educating the children of German immigrants in the United States. After finding the Nashville, Tennessee climate too harsh, they moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin to found a school. By early 1862 it became apparent that Green Bay was not able to support a school, so they determined to move down the coast of Lake Michigan to Racine, Wisconsin. During the 19^th century they lived on St. Claire Street and later 12^th Street in Racine, where they constructed a frame chapel, and later brick facilities in 1870. The Siena Center building on this site was completed in 1966, and boasts a 102-foot tall bell tower, with canoe-shaped stained glass windows by Jean-Jacques Duval. In addition to Siena Center, which contains the chapel and offices, the campus that abuts Lake Michigan includes the Sister Residence and Siena Retreat Center. It also includes Lakeshore at Siena, a skilled nursing and rehab facility, and Shorelight Memory Care, both owned and operated by Ascension Living.