Heritage Hill and the Meyer May House

Heritage Hill is a leafy neighbourhood just east of downtown that preserves a remarkable stock of nineteenth and early twentieth-century homes, built by lumber barons, furniture makers and merchants. It is one of the largest urban historic districts in the United States, with well over a thousand structures covering many architectural styles, from Greek Revival and Italianate to Queen Anne, Tudor and Prairie. Streets such as Cherry, Madison and Fulton reward a slow wander, and the contrast between grand mansions and modest cottages shows how the city grew. At the heart of the architectural interest is the Meyer May House, a Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie-style home completed in 1909 and restored by Steelcase with period furniture and fittings; it offers guided tours on limited days and is one of the best-preserved Wright interiors in the Midwest. The Voigt House Victorian Museum nearby gives a contrasting look at upper-class life in the late nineteenth century. The honest notes: tour days and times are limited, houses are private residences so you must respect them, and a map or guide helps. Fit: architecture and history lovers, photographers and walkers.

The district was rescued by neighbours in the 1960s and 1970s, when plans to demolish large parts of it for roads and redevelopment prompted residents to organise. The Heritage Hill Association has since protected, restored and promoted the area, and its annual home tour is a local institution. Today, the neighbourhood mixes owner-occupied homes, bed-and-breakfasts and offices, and it is within walking distance of downtown, so it is easy to add to a museum day.

A little preparation makes the walk richer. Learn to spot a few styles before you set off: Italianate houses have tall narrow windows and bracketed eaves, Queen Anne homes are asymmetrical with turrets and wraparound porches, and Prairie-style buildings emphasise horizontal lines and low roofs. With those in mind, the streets become a living textbook. Bring a camera, wear comfortable shoes and avoid trespassing on private lawns. Many homes display plaques that give the date and original owner, which turns each block into a short history lesson.

The district also has a social calendar. Annual tours of private houses, community events and neighbourhood sales draw visitors, and the surrounding blocks hold cafes, small restaurants and corner shops where you can stop for a drink. If you are visiting with a group that includes children, consider the shorter walk along the main streets and choose one house museum rather than several. Couples will find it a quiet counterpoint to the livelier downtown restaurants and taprooms, especially in the early evening.