Herman Uihlein House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Herman Uihlein House
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5270 North Lake Drive, Whitefish Bay, WI |
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| Built | 1917 |
| Architect | Kirchoff & Rose |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts, Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 83004313 |
| Added to NRHP | December 22, 1983 |
The Herman Uihlein Mansion is a beautiful and grand house located in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. It was built between 1917 and 1919. This mansion is designed in the classical Beaux Arts style, which is a fancy and formal way of building that was popular around that time. It often includes elements from ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
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Who Was Herman Uihlein?
Herman Uihlein was the son of the owner of the famous Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. He went to Cornell and studied law at Columbia. Later, in 1911, he became the head of the Lavine Gear Company. This company made important parts called steering gears for trucks. In 1915, Herman Uihlein bought a large piece of land, about three acres, to build his home. This land used to be a popular place called the Pabst Whitefish Bay Resort.
Design and Features of the Mansion
Herman Uihlein built his impressive house on a high spot overlooking Lake Michigan. The house has two stories and is made with strong limestone walls. It also has a special kind of roof called a hip roof, along with many classical design details.
The mansion was designed by talented architects from Milwaukee, Roger Kirchoff and Thomas Leslie Rose. Inside, the house is just as grand. The main hall has a huge, curving staircase with a beautiful railing made of wrought iron. There's also a large fireplace in the Italian-Renaissance style, built from Amherst sandstone.
The front drawing room has a French classical style, with a special parquet floor. A parquet floor is made from many small pieces of wood fitted together in a pattern. This room also has a large painted mural on canvas. The front library is designed in a Jacobean style, which is an English style from the 1600s. It features wooden floors with pegs and a fireplace with a Tudor-arched shape. The amazing ironwork throughout the house was created by a master craftsman named Cyril Colnik. It is said to have taken him three years to complete!
Experts describe the Uihlein house as a magnificent "villa" or country home. They say it combines different styles like Renaissance Revival and Beaux-Arts. Its richly decorated inside and the work of skilled artists make it a truly grand and impressive building.
National Recognition
The Herman Uihlein Mansion is very important because of its history and design. Since 1983, it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list kept by the United States government. Being on this list means a building is important to the history of the country and should be protected.
The Mansion Today
Since 2007, the Herman Uihlein Mansion has been owned by Timothy "Tim" William Sullivan. He is the CEO, president, and director of the REV Group, a large company that makes different types of vehicles. He bought the house for $5 million.
