2026 Architectural Series: Landmarks

Jason will talk about 9 of his favorite Madison Landmarks and the fascinating details about their place in Madison history - plus one that he nominated for Landmark designation. He'll also discuss the big picture of why communities adopt such ordinances, how they're different from the National Register of Historic Places, and how they can be used together. Learn more >>

Speaker Jason Tish

2026 Architectural Series: Landmarks

Historic buildings tell the story of our communities, but preserving them comes with big challenges. This program invites you to explore how new digital technologies are changing the way we care for these treasured places, making preservation safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.

Using real-life examples from historic landmarks around Madison and beyond, you’ll learn how tools like 3D laser scanning, drone photography, and digital building models (also known as “Scan to BIM”) are used to capture detailed records of buildings without touching or damaging them. These digital records help with everything from planning repairs and renovations to meeting preservation rules and creating long-term maintenance plans.

We’ll also look at how these tools support creative new uses for old buildings, help experts assess building conditions, and ensure important architecture is digitally archived for future generations. No technical background is needed! Just curiosity about how we can use today’s technology to protect the past and plan for the future. Learn more >>

Speaker Vince Scalici

2026 Architectural Series: Landmarks

Learn about the family whose home is Madison’s newest designated landmark. Benjamin and Amy Butts built a life for themselves and also partnered with other early African-American leaders to build Madison’s first neighborhood for Black Americans. Located at 633 E Johnson St, the City of Madison designated this property a landmark on March 31, 2025. Learn more >>

Speaker Heather Bailey

PROSPECT AND CASTLE: Progressive Era Treasures

Early 20th century, well-to-do Madisonians built comfortable homes along the Lake Mendota shore, many of them designed by preeminent Madison architects Claude and Starck. The designs of these homes encompassed the styles popular in that era: Tudor and Georgian Revival, Craftsman, Prairie and Colonial Revival. Walk with us through this delightful neighborhood as we learn how eminent people lived a century ago and discover more about the architecture and history of this evocative remnant of Madison's earliest years.

Length: Approximately 1.5 hours

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

Spaghetti Joints, Synagogues and Urban Renewal

Mainstream Madison thought of the historic Greenbush neighborhood as spaghetti restaurants, Prohibition speakeasies and organized crime in a blighted neighborhood. Residents of the neighborhood, on the other hand, remember it as a warm home where neighbors looked out for neighbors, be they German, Italian, or Russian Jewish immigrants, or African Americans who came in the Great American Migration. Urban renewal efforts in the 1960s tore the heart out of the neighborhood, but many traces remain, and the descendants of the original residents keep memories alive.

*We will be using our audio system on this tour (optional). Each guest will have their own listening device that fits over the ear.

Length: Approximately 2 hours

After the tour: Enjoy a complimentary Prosecco on Thursdays or a drip coffee on Saturdays at Leopold’s, Fabiola’s or the Greenbush Bar after your tour!

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

SUNSET HILLS: Mad Mid Mod

These 1950s single-family houses will remind you of cigarettes and cocktails. Platted in 1953, this subdivision of 94 homes on Madison’s west side established deed restrictions that required architect-designed “Modern” homes of high style and high quality. Attached garages only!

Length: Approximately 1 hour

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

BASCOM HILL: Learning Matters

Climb the hill to discover the fascinating history and diverse architecture of the UW campus. From the stately brick and sandstone buildings dating back to the 1850s to “the worst building in the history of American universities,” the campus offers a remarkable mix of architectural styles.

*Please note that this tour involves strenuous uphill walking.

Length: Approximately 1.5 hours

After the tour: Stop by any MOKA location and receive 50% off any beverage of your choice after the tour!

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

THIRD LAKE RIDGE WEST: Brewers and Burghers

Wild and woolly Willy Street started as a haven for 19th-century German immigrants. They made their homes, taverns, shops and churches in the unique buildings on Williamson and Jenifer Streets. Learn how this area grew through the decades to become one of Madison’s most distinctive neighborhoods.

*We will be using our audio system on this tour (optional). Each guest will have their own listening device that fits over the ear.

Length: Approximately 1.25 hours

After the tour: Head over to local favorite, Willy Street Coop, to receive $5 off a $25 purchase, 1221 Williamson St.

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

MANSION HILL WEST: Meet Movers and Shakers

Hidden among the student rentals, you’ll see where Madison’s “big bugs” settled. Time-travel with us from the 1850s to the 1940s to discover a variety of architectural styles and hear stories about the people who built our city—the Jackson, Tenney, Quisling, Mautz, Steensland, and Stevens families.

Length: Approximately 1.25 hours

After the tour: Head back to the Plaza Tavern, 319 N. Henry St., and grab a refreshing, complimentary pint of beer!

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

Marquette Bungalows: What’s a Jerkinhead?

In just two city blocks, you’ll learn about these unique Craftsman-style bungalows that are modest yet so appealing. (And you’ll be able to identify a jerkinhead!) They weren’t designed by trained architects, but by craftsmen working for the Karrels Building Company between 1924 and 1929.

Length: Approximately 1 hour

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS: Iconic Architects

Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, Frank Riley, Claude & Starck, Alvan Small—oh my! This distinguished campus-adjacent neighborhood has been home to some of Madison’s most prominent university faculty. As you explore the area, guess (or ask!) what many of the street names have in common.

Length: Approximately 1.25 hours

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

Spaghetti Joints, Synagogues and Urban Renewal

Mainstream Madison thought of the historic Greenbush neighborhood as spaghetti restaurants, Prohibition speakeasies and organized crime in a blighted neighborhood. Residents of the neighborhood, on the other hand, remember it as a warm home where neighbors looked out for neighbors, be they German, Italian, or Russian Jewish immigrants, or African Americans who came in the Great American Migration. Urban renewal efforts in the 1960s tore the heart out of the neighborhood, but many traces remain, and the descendants of the original residents keep memories alive.

*We will be using our audio system on this tour (optional). Each guest will have their own listening device that fits over the ear.

Length: Approximately 2 hours

After the tour: Enjoy a complimentary Prosecco on Thursdays or a drip coffee on Saturdays at Leopold’s, Fabiola’s or the Greenbush Bar after your tour!Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

PROSPECT AND CASTLE: Progressive Era Treasures

Early 20th century, well-to-do Madisonians built comfortable homes along the Lake Mendota shore, many of them designed by preeminent Madison architects Claude and Starck. The designs of these homes encompassed the styles popular in that era: Tudor and Georgian Revival, Craftsman, Prairie and Colonial Revival. Walk with us through this delightful neighborhood as we learn how eminent people lived a century ago and discover more about the architecture and history of this evocative remnant of Madison's earliest years.

Length: Approximately 1.5 hours

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

BASCOM HILL: Learning Matters

Climb the hill to discover the fascinating history and diverse architecture of the UW campus. From the stately brick and sandstone buildings dating back to the 1850s to “the worst building in the history of American universities,” the campus offers a remarkable mix of architectural styles.

*Please note that this tour involves strenuous uphill walking.

Length: Approximately 1.5 hours

After the tour: Stop by any MOKA location and receive 50% off any beverage of your choice after the tour!

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

SUNSET HILLS: Mad Mid Mod

These 1950s single-family houses will remind you of cigarettes and cocktails. Platted in 1953, this subdivision of 94 homes on Madison’s west side established deed restrictions that required architect-designed “Modern” homes of high style and high quality. Attached garages only!

Length: Approximately 1 hour

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

MANSION HILL WEST: Meet Movers and Shakers

Hidden among the student rentals, you’ll see where Madison’s “big bugs” settled. Time-travel with us from the 1850s to the 1940s to discover a variety of architectural styles and hear stories about the people who built our city—the Jackson, Tenney, Quisling, Mautz, Steensland, and Stevens families.

Length: Approximately 1.25 hours

After the tour: Head back to the Plaza Tavern, 319 N. Henry St., and grab a refreshing, complimentary pint of beer!

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

THIRD LAKE RIDGE WEST: Brewers and Burghers

Wild and woolly Willy Street started as a haven for 19th-century German immigrants. They made their homes, taverns, shops and churches in the unique buildings on Williamson and Jenifer Streets. Learn how this area grew through the decades to become one of Madison’s most distinctive neighborhoods.

*We will be using our audio system on this tour (optional). Each guest will have their own listening device that fits over the ear.

Length: Approximately 1.25 hours

After the tour: Head over to local favorite, Willy Street Coop, to receive $5 off a $25 purchase, 1221 Williamson St.

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS: Iconic Architects

Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, Frank Riley, Claude & Starck, Alvan Small—oh my! This distinguished campus-adjacent neighborhood has been home to some of Madison’s most prominent university faculty. As you explore the area, guess (or ask!) what many of the street names have in common.

Length: Approximately 1.25 hours

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

Marquette Bungalows: What’s a Jerkinhead?

In just two city blocks, you’ll learn about these unique Craftsman-style bungalows that are modest yet so appealing. (And you’ll be able to identify a jerkinhead!) They weren’t designed by trained architects, but by craftsmen working for the Karrels Building Company between 1924 and 1929.

Length: Approximately 1 hour

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

Spaghetti Joints, Synagogues and Urban Renewal

Mainstream Madison thought of the historic Greenbush neighborhood as spaghetti restaurants, Prohibition speakeasies and organized crime in a blighted neighborhood. Residents of the neighborhood, on the other hand, remember it as a warm home where neighbors looked out for neighbors, be they German, Italian, or Russian Jewish immigrants, or African Americans who came in the Great American Migration. Urban renewal efforts in the 1960s tore the heart out of the neighborhood, but many traces remain, and the descendants of the original residents keep memories alive.

*We will be using our audio system on this tour (optional). Each guest will have their own listening device that fits over the ear.

Length: Approximately 2 hours

After the tour: Enjoy a complimentary Prosecco on Thursdays or a drip coffee on Saturdays at Leopold’s, Fabiola’s or the Greenbush Bar after your tour!

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

THIRD LAKE RIDGE WEST: Brewers and Burghers

Wild and woolly Willy Street started as a haven for 19th-century German immigrants. They made their homes, taverns, shops and churches in the unique buildings on Williamson and Jenifer Streets. Learn how this area grew through the decades to become one of Madison’s most distinctive neighborhoods.

*We will be using our audio system on this tour (optional). Each guest will have their own listening device that fits over the ear.

Length: Approximately 1.25 hours

After the tour: Head over to local favorite, Willy Street Coop, to receive $5 off a $25 purchase, 1221 Williamson St.

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

PROSPECT AND CASTLE: Progressive Era Treasures

Early 20th century, well-to-do Madisonians built comfortable homes along the Lake Mendota shore, many of them designed by preeminent Madison architects Claude and Starck. The designs of these homes encompassed the styles popular in that era: Tudor and Georgian Revival, Craftsman, Prairie and Colonial Revival. Walk with us through this delightful neighborhood as we learn how eminent people lived a century ago and discover more about the architecture and history of this evocative remnant of Madison's earliest years.

Length: Approximately 1.5 hours

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

BASCOM HILL: Learning Matters

Climb the hill to discover the fascinating history and diverse architecture of the UW campus. From the stately brick and sandstone buildings dating back to the 1850s to “the worst building in the history of American universities,” the campus offers a remarkable mix of architectural styles.

*Please note that this tour involves strenuous uphill walking.

Length: Approximately 1.5 hours

After the tour: Stop by any MOKA location and receive 50% off any beverage of your choice after the tour!

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

SUNSET HILLS: Mad Mid Mod

These 1950s single-family houses will remind you of cigarettes and cocktails. Platted in 1953, this subdivision of 94 homes on Madison’s west side established deed restrictions that required architect-designed “Modern” homes of high style and high quality. Attached garages only!

Length: Approximately 1 hour

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS: Iconic Architects

Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, Frank Riley, Claude & Starck, Alvan Small—oh my! This distinguished campus-adjacent neighborhood has been home to some of Madison’s most prominent university faculty. As you explore the area, guess (or ask!) what many of the street names have in common.

Length: Approximately 1.25 hours

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

Marquette Bungalows: What’s a Jerkinhead?

In just two city blocks, you’ll learn about these unique Craftsman-style bungalows that are modest yet so appealing. (And you’ll be able to identify a jerkinhead!) They weren’t designed by trained architects, but by craftsmen working for the Karrels Building Company between 1924 and 1929.

Length: Approximately 1 hour

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

Spaghetti Joints, Synagogues and Urban Renewal

Mainstream Madison thought of the historic Greenbush neighborhood as spaghetti restaurants, Prohibition speakeasies and organized crime in a blighted neighborhood. Residents of the neighborhood, on the other hand, remember it as a warm home where neighbors looked out for neighbors, be they German, Italian, or Russian Jewish immigrants, or African Americans who came in the Great American Migration. Urban renewal efforts in the 1960s tore the heart out of the neighborhood, but many traces remain, and the descendants of the original residents keep memories alive.

*We will be using our audio system on this tour (optional). Each guest will have their own listening device that fits over the ear.

Length: Approximately 2 hours

After the tour: Enjoy a complimentary Prosecco on Thursdays or a drip coffee on Saturdays at Leopold’s, Fabiola’s or the Greenbush Bar after your tour!

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

THIRD LAKE RIDGE WEST: Brewers and Burghers

Wild and woolly Willy Street started as a haven for 19th-century German immigrants. They made their homes, taverns, shops and churches in the unique buildings on Williamson and Jenifer Streets. Learn how this area grew through the decades to become one of Madison’s most distinctive neighborhoods.

*We will be using our audio system on this tour (optional). Each guest will have their own listening device that fits over the ear.

Length: Approximately 1.25 hours

After the tour: Head over to local favorite, Willy Street Coop, to receive $5 off a $25 purchase, 1221 Williamson St.

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

MANSION HILL WEST: Meet Movers and Shakers

Hidden among the student rentals, you’ll see where Madison’s “big bugs” settled. Time-travel with us from the 1850s to the 1940s to discover a variety of architectural styles and hear stories about the people who built our city—the Jackson, Tenney, Quisling, Mautz, Steensland, and Stevens families.

Length: Approximately 1.25 hours

After the tour: Head back to the Plaza Tavern, 319 N. Henry St., and grab a refreshing, complimentary pint of beer!

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.

BASCOM HILL: Learning Matters

Climb the hill to discover the fascinating history and diverse architecture of the UW campus. From the stately brick and sandstone buildings dating back to the 1850s to “the worst building in the history of American universities,” the campus offers a remarkable mix of architectural styles.

*Please note that this tour involves strenuous uphill walking.

Length: Approximately 1.5 hours

After the tour: Stop by any MOKA location and receive 50% off any beverage of your choice after the tour!

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 for MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour.

For more information, visit the Historic Architecture Walking Tours page.