Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Mansion Hill Historic District
Photographed By William J. Toman, December 4, 2010
1. Mansion Hill Historic District Marker
Inscription.
Mansion Hill Historic District. . Known variously as Yankee Hill, Aristocrat Hill and Big Bug Hill, the area north of the Capitol Square near Lake Mendota was selected by Madison's business, political, and academic elites in the 19th century for their homes. Successuful bankers, timber barons, real estate promoters, railroad lawyers, University regents, professors, governors, judges and mayors resided on the hill. The seed of the Wisconsin Idea may have been planted by informal discussion and formal associations among these neighbors when they cooperated to determine public policy and direct the course of events. Large residences of dressed stone, fancy brickwork and elaborate carpentry testified to their position and taste. While outstanding structures are individually designated landmarks marked with plaques, the entire district reflects the fabric of an upper-class turn of the century neighborhood[.]
Known variously as Yankee Hill, Aristocrat Hill and Big Bug Hill, the area north of the Capitol Square near Lake Mendota was selected by Madison's business, political, and academic elites in the 19th century for their homes. Successuful bankers, timber barons, real estate promoters, railroad lawyers, University regents, professors, governors, judges and mayors resided on the hill. The seed of the Wisconsin Idea may have been planted by informal discussion and formal associations among these neighbors when they cooperated to determine public policy and direct the course of events. Large residences of dressed stone, fancy brickwork and elaborate carpentry testified to their position and taste. While outstanding structures are individually designated landmarks marked with plaques, the entire district reflects the fabric of an upper-class turn of the century neighborhood[.]
Erected 1976 by the Madison Landmarks Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places.
Location. 43° 4.725′ N, 89° 23.185′ W. Marker is in Madison, Wisconsin, in Dane County. Marker is at the intersection of East Gorham Street and North Pinckney Street on East Gorham Street. Marker is mounted on the fence at Period Garden Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 102 East Gorham Street, Madison WI 53703, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regarding Mansion Hill Historic District. Mansion Hill is the residential neighborhood north of the Square in downtown Madison. Its heart is the corner of Gilman and Pinckney Streets, where four Victorian mansions evoke an aura of yesteryear. In the 19th century, Mansion Hill was one of Madison's two most prestigious neighborhoods (the other, along East and West Wilson Street, has been mostly obliterated by time). Mansion Hill contains the greatest concentration of intact Victorian houses remaining in Madison, many of which were the homes of Madison's pioneer movers-and-shakers.
In the 1950s, '60s and '70s several of the finest old houses in Mansion Hill were demolished to make way for anonymous apartment buildings and two large insurance companies. Fearful of further erosion of the residential character of this historic neighborhood, residents petitioned the City to designate Mansion Hill as an historic district. The
Photographed By William J. Toman, December 4, 2010
2. Mansion Hill Historic District Marker
The Mansion Hill Historic District marker is on the left and the Period Park Marker is located on the right.
Common Council complied and Mansion Hill became Madison's first historic district in 1976. From the Historic Preservation Website http://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/landmark/LndmrkHist.html
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This is a list of markers for buildings in the Mansion Hill Historic District.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,865 times since then and 123 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 4, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
