Give a Gift of History
By Michael Bridgeman & Jennifer Gurske
Catalogs arrive daily. Email inboxes are filled to the brim with ideas galore. Magazines, newspapers and websites highlight holiday gift lists. When you’re thinking of gifts for friends and loved ones, don’t forget history and preservation!
Guests enjoying the 2019 Historic Preservation Awards at Old Sugar Distillery
Madison Trust Membership
The Madison Trust for Historic Preservation should be at the top of your list for the lover of Madison and its vintage buildings. There’s no better gift than a membership in the Madison Trust! The grateful recipient will enjoy free historic architecture walking tours, invitations to free members-only events, and discounted tickets to special tours and events such as the Historic Preservation Awards. To purchase a gift membership, please contact our office at info@madisonpreservation.org.
Private Walking Tour Gift Cards
Do you have friends or family that enjoy learning about the history of a place through its architecture and the personal experiences of its residents? If so, we suggest giving a gift card for a private historic architecture walking tour with the Madison Trust! The recipient can choose from any of our tours and we’ll do our best to work with their requested date and time (during the tour season). To purchase a private walking tour gift card, please contact our office at info@madisonpreservation.org.
Orton Park Historic Architecture Walking Tour
Rich selection of Books
There is a rich selection of books about Madison and the surrounding area that make terrific gifts. This is a sampling of some newer publications for holiday giving.
Lifelong Madison resident Muriel Simms unlocks the history of the city’s African-American community in Settlin’: Stories of Madison’s Early African-American Families. Simms pays particular attention to the families and institutions that centered on East Dayton Street, a neighborhood that was part of the Madison Trust’s recent Old Market Place tour. From the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. This book can also be purchased on Amazon.
Stuart Levitan captures a turbulent decade in Madison’s history in Madison in the Sixties. It was a time of urban renewal, civil rights, rapid growth, and student unrest on the UW-Madison campus. The book includes many photos and useful notes for those who want to did deeper. From the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. This book can also be purchased on Amazon.
The Capitol Building at the center of Madison has a timeless quality, though it was completed just over 100 years ago (in 1917). Michael Edmond’s very readable history recounts the story of the building itself and some of the people—famous and obscure—who have spent time under the dome. From the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. You can also purchase this on Amazon.
Gifts reflecting Madison
The new State Capitol Ornament for 2019 is also available from the Wisconsin Historical Society store as are other Madison-related gifts including items highlighting Madison lakes and the city flag.
Need more ideas for Madison-esque gifts? Head to the Monona Terrace gift shop. Here you can choose from a variety of items including ornaments of the Madison skyline, mugs, earrings and even snow globes featuring the Monona Terrace and the city skyline.
For a special gift, you can purchase a print from the Wisconsin Historical Society’s vast collect of photographs and images. Visit the Visual Materials in Our Collections page on the WHS website to learn more about how to purchase images, refine your search and, if you need inspiration, featured photo subjects to get you started.
WHS Image ID 11036
Gifts of history never go out of style, can be used year-round and require no batteries. Happy holidays and a wonderful New Year to all!