MONONA, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society announced the listing of the Willard and Fern Tompkins House in the National Register of Historic Places on September 11, 2023.
The Tompkins House is located on a tree-lined cul-de-sac near the southeast shore of Lake Monona and contrasts with its leafy surroundings. Its flat roofs, cubic forms, horizontal bands of windows and a near-total lack of ornamentation identify it as an outstanding example of the international style of architecture.
The Tompkins House was designed in 1937 by architects Hamilton Beatty and Allen Strang, two of the earliest and most significant designers of the International Style in Wisconsin. Their work is primarily concentrated in and around Monona and Madison. It represented a new and progressive approach to residential design that is recognized today as part of the beginning of modern architecture in America. The Tompkins House remains striking in appearance, thanks in part to the current owners’ use of Wisconsin’s historic homeowners’ tax credits to help preserve and restore this unique house.
Additional information for the Willard and Fern Tompkins House is available at:
To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit: https://wisconsinhistory.org/
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit https://wisconsinhistory.org
