Tour what the Wisconsin Historical Society says is “the finest collection of 1840s to 1915 architecture of any small town in Wisconsin,” welcome to Evansville! What makes this Southern Wisconsin town a must-see architectural destination? To start, Evansville a town of a little over 5,000 people, has three historic districts.

In 1974 a group of civic minded leaders recognized the town’s historic nature and commissioned a survey of over 178 existing structures. That 1974 survey served as the foundation application to get Evansville put on the National Register Historic Places (NRHP) in 1978. By 1992 there were over 300 buildings and homes added to the NRHP list spread across 22 city blocks.

In 2017-18 $8.8 million was invested in the downtown as the wave of rehab continues, some of that investment reflects the changing demographic and greater appreciation for preserving the story of the town’s history. Three years ago, historic district signs were put up around town to create more awareness for out-of-town visitors and local property owners alike. Evansville’s three historic districts include: The Grove Street Historic District on the northside of Evansville; The South First Street Residential Historic District on the southside; the Evansville Historic District is the largest and contains the greatest number of historic structures.

It is nearly impossible for one tour to feature all of Evansville’s 300 historic buildings. Consider this self-guided tour of the Evansville Historic District just a sampling of the unique structures that reflect the town’s diverse collection of architectural styles

Before we begin, please observe these guidelines on your self-guided tour.  

1) Respect the property owners. If taking photos of a historic home do so from the sidewalks. 

2) Please observe all posted municipal signs, if parking your vehicle.

3) Your best view of the building is likely from across the street. Use the crosswalk.

4) When taking photos be aware of your surroundings (i.e. do not stand in the middle of the street.)

This completes the tour of Evansville’s

architectural heritage. Consider this just a brief glimpse into the city’s rich architectural heritage. There are many more gems equally worthy of including in the tour. For a more comprehensive look at Historic Evansville, including bonus photos, audio tour and interactive map please visit Lakesedition.com/ tours-in-southern-wisconsin. Additionally, there are brochures available by the Evansville Historic Preservation Commission, and Discover Wisconsin published “Choice Destination Evansville Wisconsin.”

THANK YOU!