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Roughly bounded by Regent, Allen, Lathrop Sts., and Kendall Ave. (both sides)
University Heights Historic District
82001844
Roughly bounded by Regent, Allen, Lathrop Sts., and Kendall Ave. (both sides)
Dane
Madison
Summary
University Heights Historic District
Madison, Dane County
Dates of contributing buildings: 1894-1965
In 1893 former Madison mayor and prominent lawyer, Breese J. Stevens, sold a 106 acre parcel to the University Heights Company for $53,000. The principal officers of the Company were William T. Fish, a prominent contractor and pioneering Madison suburb developer, and Burr W. Jones, a noted attorney. The plat was given a topographically influenced, curvilinear plan. Streets named after past University presidents were intended to appeal to faculty of the nearby University of Wisconsin campus.
Construction on this hilltop neighborhood began in 1894. Large, impressive homes were clustered just below the summit, while smaller houses were built in the north portion of the development. The earliest houses in the neighborhood are examples of the Shingle and the Queen Anne styles. Later homes exhibited Period Revival, Craftsman and Prairie designs. As one of Madison's leading neighborhoods, it features many architecturally important residences including Louis Sullivan's Bradley House, Frank Lloyd Wright's Gilmore House, George Fred Keck's Morehouse House, and many homes by leading Madison architects like Claude and Stark, Alvin Small, and Law, Law and Potter.
The neighborhood housed many of the city's intellectual elite, including numerous University faculty who achieved recognition for their academic and scientific studies. Also located in the district is the home of John Olin, who was instrumental in developing Madison's park system. Upon his death, the large house was bequeathed to the university and serves as the home of the University of Wisconsin system president.
The houses in this neighborhood are private residences. Please respect the rights and privacy of the owners.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering,Person |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture,Education |
| Period of Significance | 1893-1965 |
| Architectural Style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements,Modern Movement,Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Resource Type | District |
| Historic Use | Single Dwelling,Business |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 397 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 3 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Dec 17, 1982 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jan 1, 1989 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
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