When you're on the Marquette University campus, just west of downtown, you might be forgiven for thinking the imposing gothic Gesu church is the oldest building around. But head about a block southwest and you'll come upon the diminutive St. Joan of Arc chapel.

This lovely little building with the steep-pitched roof and pointed spire is by far the oldest structure in Milwaukee. It was built in the 15th century as Chapelle de St. Martin de Sayssuel in the French village of Chasse.

Over the years, the building fell into disrepair and in 1927, Gertrude Hill Gavin, the daughter of railroad tycoon James Hill, had the building carefully pulled apart and reconstructed on her 50-acre estate in Jericho, a town on New York's Long Island.

On the estate, the chapel was added to a renaissance chateau that Gavin also transferred stone-by-stone from France. A 1962 fire severely damaged the chateau but left the chapel miraculously untouched.

When subsequent owners of that estate, Mr. and Mrs. Marc B. Rojtman gifted the chapel to Marquette University in 1964, it was once again taken apart, shipped and reassembled, reopening in 1966. The Rojtmans donated a number of items to furnish the Chapel, including a crucifix, banner, priedieux, torcheres, candlesticks, lectern, missal stand, vestments and antependium -- which all date from the 15th century. They also presented an early Gothic font, which likely dates to the 12th or early 13th century.

The chapel is widely considered to be an outstanding example of pure Gothic architecture and Marquette is quick to point out that many believe it to be the only medieval structure in the Western Hemisphere still dedicated to its original purpose.

It is rumored that Joan of Arc kissed one of the structure's stones before leading her countrymen into battle against the British during the Hundred Years War in 1429. To this day, the stone is supposedly colder to the touch than the others. The stone, however, is not original to the building, it was added later.

For many decades, the chapel was the center of the village of Chasse, a small cluster of buildings in the Departement de L'Arrondissement de Vienne, 12 miles south of Lyon, in the beautiful Rhone River Valley.

As is the case with many aged structures, the chapel as it now appears was not completed at once. Many changes were completed during numerous eras when differing architectural styles were in vogue. The result is a building that offers a glimpse into half a millennium of French village life and history.

After the First World War, Jacques Couelle, an architect and archeologist from Aix-en-Provence, discovered the chapel. He made meticulous drawings and photographs of it, supplementing these with careful measurements. When Gavin purchased the chapel, Couelle was instrumental in helping move it to Long Island.

A distinguished American stained glass artist, Charles J. Connick, who executed much of the stained glass in New York City's Cathedral of St. John the Divine, was commissioned by Mrs. Gavin to design and execute four stained glass windows, which were set in the original stone mullions and traceries from Chasse.

Some changes were made when the chapel was brought to Marquette. The nave was extended and several windows added. The tomb of Chevalier de Sautereau and the niche were shifted to the left and the sacristy to the right -- restoring them to their original positions. The modern age made an appearance with electric heating, installed in the floor.

Visit the Chapel Dedicated to St. Joan of Arc. It's the kind of beautiful, serene gothic building that people travel thousands of miles (namely to Europe) to see. The chapel is open Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sun., 12-4 p.m. Admission is free.