Mansion Hill Historic District (Madison, Wisconsin)


The Mansion Hill Historic District encompasses a part of the Mansion Hill neighborhood of Madison, Wisconsin. The district was home to several members of Madison's upper class during the 19th century. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

History

Madison was surveyed in 1836 and incorporated as a village in 1846. The oldest existing houses in the district were built in the 1850s. Of the 161 contributing buildings, 44 were built prior to 1880, a further 78 were built through 1910. Half of the buildings are in the Italianate and Queen Anne styles, 16 other styles are also represented. Several of the buildings in the district are also individually listed on the historic register, including the Old Executive Mansion.
From the 1950s to the 1970s, a number of old houses in the district were demolished to make way for new buildings. In response, residents petitioned the city to have the district designated a landmark and protect its history. The district became a city landmark in 1976, officially becoming Madison's first historic district.