Local Historic Districts
Madison has five local historic districts. Each neighborhood has unique cultural resources and stories to tell. The Madison Landmarks Commission reviews all exterior changes to properties in our local historic districts. This allows the City to sensitively integrate historic places as the community continues to grow and evolve.
The Historic Preservation Ordinance lists the Historic District Standards by the level of intervention:
- Maintenance
- Repair
- Alteration
- Addition
- New Construction
The Historic District Illustrated Design Guidelines can help property owners plan their project.
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Mansion Hill Local Historic District
Mansion Hill is a residential neighborhood north of the Capitol Square. In the 19th century it was one of Madison's most prestigious neighborhoods. Today, it contains the largest number of intact Victorian houses in Madison. Developers in the 1950s-70s demolished houses to build apartments or commercial buildings, dramatically changing the look of the neighborhood. Concerned about losing more of these architecturally significant structures, residents asked the City to create a local historic district. The Common Council named Mansion Hill our first historic district in 1976. While the mansions remain, many of these are now multi-unit housing, largely for students.
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Third Lake Ridge Historic District
Third Lake Ridge includes the oldest section of the Marquette neighborhood. Our largest historic district, the neighborhood a variety of buildings: churches, hotels, warehouses, cottages, mansions, and early multi-family buildings. This neighborhood continues to be a place where a diversity of people live, work, shop, and dine. The Marquette Neighborhood Association asked the City to make the area a historic district in their revitalization plan. Common Council named Third Lake Ridge as our second historic district in 1979. The reinvestment in this neighborhood continues today.
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University Heights Historic District
The University Heights Company platted this neighborhood in 1893. One of the city's earliest suburbs, the company marketed this neighborhood to university professors and employees. The historic district includes some of Madison's most significant Queen Anne, Prairie, and Period Revival houses. There are also houses designed by Madison's leading architects of the time, as well as houses from nationally significant architects, including Keck & Keck, George W Maher, Louis Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Common Council designated University Heights our third historic district in 1985.
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Marquette Bungalows Historic District
In 1924, the Karrels Realty and Building Development Company planned this two-block development. They constructed five homes the first year and continued development until they sold the last lot in 1930. The 47 new houses were similarly sized bungalows, each with unique design details to set them apart. This developers marketed these houses to middle-class families. Common Council designated Marquette Bungalows as our fourth historic district in 1993.
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First Settlement Historic District
In 1837 Eben & Roaslie Peck built a boarding house on S Butler St for the builders of the first state capitol. Their log cabin was the first American settler house in Madison. Residents constructed additional houses during the 19th and early 20th centuries, in a mix of housing types. Post WWII, new state government buildings began to dramatically reshape this area adjacent to the Capitol Square. A neighborhood group advocated to save this place in the 1990s. In 2002, Common Council named First Settlement as our fifth historic district.
