Historic Architecture Walking Tours

May 28 - September 26

May 1 ~ Tickets open for Madison Trust members

May 15 ~ Tickets open for general public

TOUR INFORMATION

See below tour descriptions for additional FAQ

Tour Time Information

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Tours run May through September.

Thursday (May-August) evening tours are at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday (September) evening tours are at 5:00 p.m.
Saturday morning tours are at 10:00 a.m
*Exception: State Street Saturdays are 2:00 p.m.

Ticketing Information

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Cost:

$15.00 for adults
$5.00 for students
$5.00 for Madison Trust members
Free for children 5 and under

Learn about membership

*Purchasing tickets online is required. Reservations are required for all guests.

Buying Tickets: Under each tour, you will see a Buy Tickets section. Click and you will be taken to the ticketing page where you can purchase tickets. You can use a credit card or debit card to purchase tickets.

MTHP Members: You will choose the Member Ticket option. Please note, you will need to enter your Member ID. If you do not know your Member ID, please contact us at info@madisonpreservation.org.

Historic Milwaukee, Inc. members: Choose an Adult or Student ticket, enter the promo code. You may be asked to show your HMI membership card at the tour.

*TICKET SALES END 24 hours prior to the tour start time.

Refunds: To receive a refund, you must cancel three (3) days (72 hours) prior to your tour. Fees are nonrefundable.

Cancellations by the Madison Trust

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We will be at the tour rain or shine! Yes, we do tours in the rain. However, we know Wisconsin summer weather can be unpredictable. For the safety of our guests, a tour may be cancelled for extreme weather or lightning. This can happen prior to a tour, at the tour or during a tour. If possible, we will alert guests in advance by email. Purchased tickets will be refunded.

How can I contact you?

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If you need to reach us the day of the tour, please email outreach@madisonpreservation.org or text/call (608) 492-1097.

For refunds or ticketing questions, please email info@madisonpreservation.org.

Download Tour Calendars

Download Schedule by Tour Date
Download Schedule by Tour Name

Special thanks to our 2026 Tour Partners!

Machinery Row

Threshers, Tractors, Trains, and Traveling Salesmen

During the booming 19th century, the east side of Madison was the center of the agricultural implement manufacturing industry in Wisconsin. Railroads converged here and the area became “Machinery Row.” Learn about this history and see factories, commercial buildings, a railroad station, hotels, and a candy company to boot!

  • Thursday, June 11 at 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, July 18 at 10:00 a.m.

    Thursday, August 13 at 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m.

  • Approximately 1 ½ hours long and walking about 1 mile.

  • Next to Machinery Row. A map of the meeting location will be sent with your event confirmation email.

  • Stop by Good News Cafe and Ice Cream, 117 King St., at any time and receive 25% off any item with your ticket.

  • While this tour is on sidewalks and the bike path, some sections are uneven. To improve the guest experience on this tour, we will use the audio system.

  • Click here to be taken to our ticketing page where you can purchase your tickets.

    Cost: $15.00 adults, $5.00 students, $5.00 Madison Trust members

Mansion Hill East

Lifestyles of the Rich and (Once) Famous

Big Bug Hill, Aristocracy Hill, Mansion Hill. Travel through time with us to see the stately sandstone mansions built by Madison’s early elite, including the Old Governor’s Mansion, home to 17 Wisconsin governors. Times change, residents change, but these elegant buildings continue to inspire.

  • Saturday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m.

    Thursday, July 2 at 6:00 p.m.

    Thursday, July 30 at 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, August 15 at 10:00 a.m.

    Thursday, September 10 at 5:00 p.m.

  • Approximately 1 ¼ hours long and walking about 1 mile.

  • The Edgewater’s Statehouse Café, outside at the upper level entrance. A map of the meeting location will be sent with your event confirmation email.

  • Stop by The Edgewater, 1001 Wisconsin Place, after the tour and receive one complimentary house coffee, draft beer, house wine, or soft drink with your ticket.

  • While this tour is on sidewalks, some are uneven and it is slightly hilly terrain.

  • Click here to be taken to our ticketing page where you can purchase your tickets.

    Cost: $15.00 adults, $5.00 students, $5.00 Madison Trust members

Nakoma

Colonial and Tudor Revival Gems in an Early Suburb

Take a trip with us down historic Nakoma Road and learn about one of Madison’s first suburbs and the prominent residents and architects responsible for its development. View fine homes on lush lots as well as one of Madison’s oldest buildings, the Old Spring Tavern.

  • Thursday, June 4 at 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, June 20 at 10:00 a.m.

    Thursday, July 16 at 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, August 8 at 10:00 a.m.

    Thursday, September 3 at 5:00 p.m.

  • Approximately 1 ½ hours long and walking about 1 mile.

  • Thoreau Elementary School rear parking lot. A map of the meeting location will be sent with your event confirmation email.

  • Tour treat partners are paused for this tour. We thank all our partners for their generous support!

  • While this tour is on sidewalks, some sections are uneven and it is slightly hilly terrain.

  • Click here to be taken to our ticketing page where you can purchase your tickets.

    Cost: $15.00 adults, $5.00 students, $5.00 Madison Trust members

Old Market Place

Divergence by the Lakeshore

A tour of this Near East Side neighborhood, nestled between East Washington Avenue and the shores of Lake Mendota, highlights the area’s remarkable transformation. Discover how a historic factory, a former water utility building, and a neighborhood school have been thoughtfully repurposed into modern apartments. Along the way, learn about Madison’s earliest Black neighborhood and take in the architecturally distinctive homes along the lakeshore.

  • Saturday, June 13 at 10:00 a.m.

    Thursday, July 9 at 6:00 p.m.

    Thursday, August 6 at 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, September 5 at 10:00 a.m.

  • Approximately 1 ½ hours long and walking about 1 mile.

  • In front of the Capital City Masonic Lodge #2. A map of the meeting location will be sent with your event confirmation email.

  • Stop by Salvatore’s Tomato Pies, 10 N. Livingston St., to receive 15% off an item with your ticket!

  • While this tour is on sidewalks, some sections are uneven and it is slightly hilly terrain. To improve the guest experience on this tour, we will use the audio system.

  • Click here to be taken to our ticketing page where you can purchase your tickets.

    Cost: $15.00 adults, $5.00 students, $5.00 Madison Trust members

Orton Park

Distinctive Architecture and Stately Oaks

Now a place of relaxation, recreation, and celebration; Orton Park once served as a final resting place for the dearly departed. Tour one of Madison’s oldest neighborhoods and see homes designed by local architects in distinctive styles as diverse as Italianate, Queen Anne, Greek and Tudor revival, Craftsman, and Prairie.

  • Thursday, June 18 at 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, July 11 at 10:00 a.m.

    Thursday, August 27 at 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, September 26 at 10:00 a.m.

  • Approximately 1 ¼ hours long and walking about 1 mile.

  • In front of Immanuel Lutheran Church. A map of the meeting location will be sent with your event confirmation email.

  • After the tour, head over to local favorite Willy Street Coop to receive $5 off a $25 purchase, 1221 Williamson St. You must give them the coupon you receive on the tour.

  • While this tour is on sidewalks, some sections are uneven.

  • Click here to be taken to our ticketing page where you can purchase your tickets.

    Cost: $15.00 adults, $5.00 students, $5.00 Madison Trust members

State Street (*Updated tour)

That Great Street!

Step back in time to discover how a "paper city" layout from 1836 evolved into Madison’s most iconic thoroughfare. This tour highlights the architectural transition of State Street from a muddy residential lane to a vibrant commercial and cultural link between the State Capitol and the University of Wisconsin. You’ll explore a timeline of architecture, from the Italianate sandstone of the 1855 Willett S. Main St. building to the grand movie palaces of the 1920s and the modern transformation of the Overture Center. Along the way, you'll hear stories of Civil War soldiers and the political demonstrations that have shaped the soul of "That Great Street."

  • Thursday, May 28 at 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, June 27 at 2:00 p.m. *new time

    Thursday, July 23 at 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, August 22 at 2:00 p.m. *new time

    Thursday, September 24 at 5:00 p.m.

  • Approximately 1 ½ hours long and walking less than 1 mile.

  • In front of Michelangelo’s Coffee House. A map of the meeting location will be sent with your event confirmation email.

  • Stop by the Chocolate Shoppe, 468 State St., and enjoy a single scoop of ice cream in a cake cone, sugar cone, or dish with your ticket!

  • While this tour is on sidewalks, some sections are uneven and the area can be crowded. To improve the guest experience on this tour, we have changed the Saturday time, reduced the maximum guest numbers and will use the audio system.

  • Click here to be taken to our ticketing page where you can purchase your tickets.

    Cost: $15.00 adults, $5.00 students, $5.00 Madison Trust members

UW-Madison Agricultural Campus

Birthplace of the Wisconsin Idea

Moo-ve through the historic agriculture campus and learn about the scientific discoveries made within these 19th-century buildings of varied architectural styles. The tour is about so much more than cows, although you may see some of those too. And there’s ice cream!

  • Saturday, July 4 at 10:00 a.m.

    Saturday, July 25 at 10:00 a.m.

    Thursday, August 20 at 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, September 19 at 10:00 a.m.

  • Approximately 1 ½ hours long and walking about 1.5 miles.

  • At the entrance to Allen Centennial Garden. A map of the meeting location will be sent with your event confirmation email.

  • After the tour, stop by the Babcock Dairy Store, 1605 Linden Dr., and receive a complimentary scoop of ice cream. You must provide the coupon you receive on the tour.

  • This tour takes place primarily on sidewalks, with some portions along the street where sidewalks are unavailable. Please be aware that certain areas may have uneven surfaces, and there is a hill near Agricultural Hall. The route also covers a slightly longer distance than our other tours, as the buildings are more spread out.

  • Click here to be taken to our ticketing page where you can purchase your tickets.

    Cost: $15.00 adults, $5.00 students, $5.00 Madison Trust members

West Rail Corridor (*New Tour)

Railroads Transform Madison

In the 19th century, the West Rail Corridor area was a hotbed of businesses that depended on the railroad to transport raw materials and finished products, as well as businesses that served railroad passengers and workers. This area, birthplace of a number of long-term Madison businesses, now abounds with repurposed historic buildings that are home to offices, renters and condo owners. Join us for a nostalgic, up-close look at Madison's railroad history through many architectural gems.

  • Saturday, May 30 at 10:00 a.m.

    Thursday, June 25 at 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday, August 1 at 10:00 a.m.

    Saturday, August 29 at 10:00 a.m.

    Thursday, September 17 at 5:00 p.m.

  • Approximately 1 ¾ hours long and walking about 1 mile.

  • In front of the Camp Randall Rowing Club, Brittingham Boat House. A map of the meeting location will be sent with your event confirmation email.

  • Tour treat partners are paused for this tour. We thank all our partners for their generous support!

  • While this tour is on sidewalks and the bike path, some sections are uneven and we will be crossing busy streets. To improve the guest experience on this tour, we will use the audio system.

  • Click here to be taken to our ticketing page where you can purchase your tickets.

    Cost: $15.00 adults, $5.00 students, $5.00 Madison Trust members

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, we look forward to seeing you on a tour!

Your Questions, Answered

View tickets for all tours

  • Dress for the weather in comfortable shoes, as tours require standing and walking for up to two hours. We encourage bringing water if the weather will be hot and an umbrella if rain is forecasted.

  • There are no bathroom facilities on the tours.

  • If you have a group of 8 or more, please contact us at outreach@madisonpreservation.org for special arrangements prior to the tour.

    We also do private tours! See our Private Tours page for more information.

  • Yes! As a ticket holder, you will be able to:

    • View, print and resend event/order confirmation.

    • Reschedule your tickets to a future date:

      • You can reschedule your tickets for a future date based on availability in that future event.

      • You can reschedule your tickets up until 3 days before the event starts.

      • Rescheduling will not work on single events and events that are full.

    Click here to view instructions to manage your tickets. If you have any issues, please contact us at info@madisonpreservation.org. We are always happy to resend confirmations or reschedule your tickets.

  • Yes! On our ticketing site, you can select multiple events and add tickets to your cart. Once you’re ready, you can checkout from your cart.

    As this is a new feature, there are a couple limitations.

    *Please note, right now, you cannot reschedule your tickets for a future event if you purchase them in a multi-event order. We will need to cancel them, issue a refund and make a new purchase for the future date.

  • Certified service dogs are always welcome. Other pets are not permitted on the tours.

  • Street parking is available on almost all the tours. Please make sure to read parking times on signs for downtown tours.

    For information on City of Madison garages and lots, see their parking map or the current hourly parking availability map.

    For tours at UW-Madison, check out the link to Transportation Service’s visitor parking availability tracker to see where to park nearby the tour.