Westmorland in Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Jacobs House I

1937

— Frank Lloyd Wright —

Jacobs House I Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William J. Toman,, July 23, 2010

1. Jacobs House I Marker

Inscription. Built for Herbert Jacobs, Madison journalist, this L-plan structure is the first of Wright's Usonian houses designed for middle income families. The horizontal emphasis of the earlier Prairie School style is evident. Innovative construction techniques used in this house include a masonry core, pre-fabricated sandwich dry walls, elimination of basement and attic spaces, and heat conduits in a concrete slab floor.

Erected 1974 by Madison Landmarks Commission. (Marker Number 24.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the Wisconsin, Madison Landmarks Commission series lists.

Location. 43° 3.511′ N, 89° 26.505′ W. Marker is in Madison, Wisconsin, in Dane County. It is in Westmorland. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Toepfer Avenue and Birch Avenue, on the left when traveling south. The marker is on the ground in front of the house. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 441 Toepfer Avenue, Madison WI 53711, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Glenwood Children's Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Plough Inn (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Plough Inn (approx. half a mile away); In Memory of Our Beloved Sons (approx. 0.6

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miles away); Site of Former Greenbush Cemetery Burials (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Spring Hotel (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Spring Tavern (approx. 0.6 miles away); Hoyt Park (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison.

Regarding Jacobs House I. The Madison Landmarks Commission adds that this house was built for Jacobs and his wife, Catherine; that Wright coined the term "Usonian" for these houses he designed for middle income families; and that the Jacobs family later commissioned Wright to build a second house for them, the Jacobs II house, which is also a Madison Landmark. See Related markers.

This is one of eight properties designed by Frank Lloyd Wright collectively named UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2019. They are: Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois; Frederick C. Robie House, Chicago, Illinois; Taliesin, Spring Green, Wisconsin; Hollyhock House, Los Angeles, California; Fallingwater, Mill Run, Pennsylvania; the Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House, Madison, Wisconsin; Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona; and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, New York.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Jacobs House I image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William J. Toman, July 23, 2010

2. Jacobs House I

The front of the house from the south. It is difficult to see, but there is a row of windows under the eaves.

Photographed By William J. Toman, July 23, 2010

3. Jacobs House I

The front of the house from the north.

Photographed By William J. Toman, July 23, 2010

4. Jacobs House I

The back of the house from the south.

Photographed By Craig Baker

5. Jacobs House I

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,343 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 25, 2021. 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 24, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 5. submitted on December 25, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.