Summary
Brittingham Park Boathouse
North Shore Drive, Madison, Dane County
Architects: Ferry & Clas
Date of construction: 1910
The Brittingham Park Boathouse represents the Progressive Era civic improvement efforts of the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association. In 1894 a group of civic leaders, influenced by the "City Beautiful" movement, organized the Association to create scenic public spaces for the enjoyment of the city's residents. The group developed a series of professionally planned parks and drives, including Brittingham Park in 1905. In 1908 the President of the Association called for a public bathhouse and boathouse to compensate for the many private ones destroyed during the creation of the park. Thomas E. Brittingham, a prominent Madison lumberman who had donated the land for the park, responded with an offer to help finance the project.
The design of the complex, and of the boathouse, was a collaboration between distinguished landscape designer John Nolen of Cambridge, Massachusetts and the prominent Milwaukee architecture firm of Ferry and Clas. The boathouse was built in 1910. It is a balloon-frame structure on concrete footings. The only reference to an architectural style is a Gothic-influenced pointed arch doorway flanked by light fixtures that resemble torches. A 1921 addition, which replicated the original materials and design, extended the south wing and altered the building's original symmetrical appearance. In 2006, a major renovation added a sympathetic addition to the north, duplicating the 1921 wing and bringing balance to the overall design.
Today the boathouse is the oldest remaining building associated with the Park and Pleasure Drive Association. It is also the oldest public park building standing in Madison.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering,Event |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture,Community Planning And Development |
| Period of Significance | 1900-1924 |
| Architectural Style | No Style Listed |
| Architect | Ferry & Clas |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Outdoor Recreation |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| 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 | Jun 30, 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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Brittingham Bay Panorama
1914
Panoramic view of Brittingham Bay taken from the north west shore of Brittingham Park. The boathouse is on the left. On the right the railroad tracks cross. In the foreground is North Shore Drive. ...
2900 S LAKE SHORE DR - SOUTH SHORE PARK - LAKE MICHIGAN PARKWAY SOUTH
27657
Located in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County
7708 Braeger Road
11000115
Located in Town of Three Lakes, Oneida County
