The Marian Center's Loretto Hall was constructed in 1904 as St. Mary's Academy, a high school for young women. The Academy expanded in 1921. Additional expansions in 1931 and 1935 created Rosary Hall and Clare Wing. This created enough space to allow for the development of St. Clare College in 1937. That institution was renamed in 1946 for Samuel Cardinal Stritch.  Cardinal Stritch College outgrew its home here and, in 1962,  moved to its current location, just north of Milwaukee's city limits.  In 1997, Stritch moved  to University status.

St. Mary's Academy continued to grow into the largest high school for young women in the State of Wisconsin. These women brought tremendous accolades for themselves and the school winning local and national recognition for scholastic achievement. In 1980, Milwaukee County and the State of Wisconsin recognized the school as an historic landmark. Ultimately, however, times changed.  St. Mary's Academy closed in June, 1991, after preparing over 8,000 young women to become responsible citizens in our society, and to serve as leaders in a myriad of professions.

The Marian Center for Nonprofits was created in September 1991 to preserve the heritage and the fabric woven into Loretto Hall, Rosary Hall and Clare Wing. The classrooms are converted to affordable offices for other nonprofit organizations. The Center has enjoyed phenomenal success recruiting incredibly diverse groups serving cities in and around Milwaukee County, the State of Wisconsin, the United States of America, and a number
of countries in the world.

Specialty program rooms allow for more vitality as the venue changes for special interests. The Multi-purpose room in Loretto Hall is rented on an hourly basis and used for seminars by a variety of education-based organizations, presentations and discussions by various community groups, recitals, small family gatherings, bridal and baby showers, birthday celebrations, Board of Directors' meetings, and the like.  There are also other former classroom spaces available for time spans from one hour to multiple days which can be
used for seminars, meetings, classes, etc.

The Gymnasium in Rosary Hall is rented on an hourly basis and used by high schools for Basketball team practices, as well as, community adult men's and women's groups for basketball and soccer on a social basis. It also rents for demonstration programs, awards programs, a variety of social dance venues, class reunions, agency socials and fund raisers, craft fairs, dinner-theatre productions, and the like.

The Auditorium in Rosary Hall is available for larger events, which can be served by the theatre seating and stage presentation area. Community theatre is produced and directed by a variety of groups - including the Soulstice Theatre Company and our own Academy Theatre. The Auditorium has been the site for dance programs, lectures, concerts, and the Miss Milwaukee Scholarship Competition Program (local and regional).

St. Mary's Chapel in Loretto Hall is the site for family-sized weddings, baptisms, wedding-vow renewals, prayer vigils, and meditation.