Whether you’ve lived in Evansville all of your life or just part of your life, you know the small city has one of the most intriguing collections of Victorian era homes in our region. More than a sleepy bedroom community of Madison, Evansville is an historic and storied community at the heart of Wisconsin’s settlement.
Historians attribute Evansville’s rich concentration of historic buildings on its slow but steady growth that spanned a succession of eras. First providing a rural market, the community grew into a center of manufacturing and education for the surrounding region and was a primary stop on the rail line between Chicago and Minneapolis.
Five of the City’s finest examples of 19th and 20th century architecture will open their doors during the upcoming Historic House Tour. Mark you calendar for Saturday, September 19 to spend a pleasant fall afternoon visiting remarkable examples of historic architecture and hearing the stories of the people that called them home.
Starting outside the Gothic-style home built by the City’s namesake, Dr. John Evans, the tour kicks off at 1 p.m. A one mile walk through the City’s historic districts features homes included in Evansville’s listing in the National Registry of Historic Places, many categorized as being of primary significance.
See The Tower House, one of the most photographed houses in the city. Its square steeple-shaped tower and rounded bay windows are unique, and continue to captivate visitors to Evansville. Described as the late picturesque stick-style architecture, this design was readily available in many house pattern books of the late 1800s. The residence features gabled roofs with decorative trusses at the apex.
Also featured is the Johnson-Morrison residence, a well-maintained late Italianate frame house. Elaborate windows are topped with gable-shaped hood molds, under which are keystones and guttae. A neat Italianate porch encloses a paneled double door entrance. This house has been under renovation for the last several years and should offer a particularly interesting perspective on the intersection between modernization and historic preservation.
The home built by the inventor and industrialist Allen Baker is another highlight of the tour. A twice-injured Civil War veteran, Allen went on to found Baker Manufacturing, a pivotal firm that put Evansville on the map. Baker’s patented windmills were in high demand during westward expansion. Baker Manufacturing continues to operate in Evansville and their hand water pumps can still be found in almost every rest area across America.
The tour, sponsored by the Evansville Grove Society, begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, when the modern stewards of Evansville’s history will graciously welcome all into their homes. Docents will share the stories of the homes and their historic residents at each location.
Admission for this rain or shine event is $20 in advance ($25 day of tour, free for children 12 and under). Tickets are avilable through The Grove Society, at their historic museum on Saturday afternoons, or through the Evansville Chamber of Commerce. All proceeds benefit the Grove Society and their work preserving Evansville’s history.
After the tour, participants are encouraged to attend YardFest 2026.
