Holiday Gift Guide 2024

At the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation, celebrating the city’s historic places is at the core of our mission. With the season of celebrations upon us, there’s no better time to share the joy of Madison’s history and architecture than through a gift from the Madison Trust—whether it’s an annual membership, summer walking tour tickets, or our NEW swag!

We also mention a range of locally inspired gifts, from books and ornaments to a Frank Lloyd Wright tea set, all celebrating the things that make Madison and Wisconsin truly special.

Madison Trust for Historic Preservation

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

The top gift on our list is an annual membership to the Madison Trust. It’s a gift that keeps on giving all year long, offering early access and discounted admission to our seasonal historic architecture walking tours, exclusive discounts on special events and tours, and much more. Click here to purchase this thoughtful gift and share your passion for Madison’s rich architectural heritage. Memberships start at just $25!

HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE WALKING TOURS TICKETS

If you think your recipient would enjoy touring Madison, a gift card for our Historic Architecture Walking Tours is a perfect choice. This thoughtful gift offers an engaging exploration of Madison’s neighborhoods, where our knowledgeable docents will highlight the city’s historic architecture and share fascinating stories about its local history and heritage. We offer eight tours each summer, running Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings from May through September. You can easily purchase tour gift tickets online here.

*Tour gift certificates must be used during the 2025 tour season.

NEW! Madison Trust Swag

We’re excited to announce the launch of our new swag site, featuring a collection of stylish t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and more, all adorned with our new logo or our first custom design showcasing a triangular “flatiron” building—an iconic symbol of Madison’s architectural charm. Not only will you be wearing a piece of local history, but a portion of every purchase goes directly to support the Madison Trust and our efforts to protect and celebrate the city’s historic places. Shop now and help preserve Madison’s architectural heritage while sporting some unique, meaningful gear!

Books

We’ve put together a list of books that may not be the latest releases, but are definitely worth revisiting. These timeless reads offer valuable insights into architecture, history, and the stories behind Wisconsin’s most iconic places. Whether you're a long-time enthusiast or new to the subject, these books continue to inspire and educate, and we’re excited to share them.

Wisconsin's Own: Twenty Remarkable Homes, by M. Caren Connolly & Louis Wasserman, explores Wisconsin’s historic homes and their place in American residential architecture. It answers questions like: Who built these homes, what inspired their designs, and how have they survived despite development pressures? The book highlights a variety of homes, from public landmarks to private treasures, showcasing diverse styles—Italianate, Prairie School by Wright and Sullivan, Adirondack, and Georgian Revival. Illustrated with photos by Zane Williams and historical drawings, Wisconsin's Own offers a glimpse into the lives of those who built these enduring architectural gems.

Virginia Savage McAlester’s A Field Guide to American Houses (Revised): The Definitive Guide to Identifying and Understanding America's Domestic Architecture is a useful guide to the language of the built environment. It’s perfect for the casual reader who wants to explore a neighborhood (on our walking tours!) with a deeper understanding or for homeowners learning about the style of the historic home they just purchased. By viewing even the most ordinary architectural features as integral parts of a city’s story, McAlester helps us to see beyond the bricks and mortar. She transforms these buildings into dynamic, vibrant structures that make places, like Madison, special.

One standout book on Madison architecture is Frank Lloyd Wright's Jacobs Houses: Experiments in Modern Living. It focuses on the two iconic Jacobs houses, starting with the first Usonian house built in 1936-1937 for Herbert and Katherine Jacobs at 441 Toepfer Ave., which was the first of Wright’s Usonian designs. The second, at 3995 Shawn Trail, is a passive solar home built between 1943 and 1949. Edited by renowned author Neil Levine, the book includes essays by the Jacobs children—Susan, Elizabeth, and William—along with new scholarly contributions from Neil Levine and Michael Desmond. Richly illustrated, it features never-before-published photographs and drawings of both houses.

Thompson Mayes offers a useful overview of key ideas in historic preservation in Why Old Places Matter. Mayes, who is chief legal officer and general counsel for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, articulates the ways old places can be important to us and our communities. Fourteen illustrated essays explore a range of topics including continuity, beauty, sustainability, and economics. You can see Mayes’s topics and sample the photos at the National Trust website.

“What is it about old places that give them this unique capacity to ‘convey, embody, or stimulate a relation or reaction’ to history? … [P]eople feel the excitement of experiencing the place where something actually happened, from the shimmering watery fortress of Fort Sumter where the Civil War started, to the quiet rooms of Emily Dickinson’s home in Amherst, Massachusetts.”

- Excerpt from Why Old Places Matter

More Madison Area Gifts

Wisconsin Historical Society

The Wisconsin Historical Society has an array of Wisconsin gifts including a trove of items featuring Madison icons and images. Visit the WHS website where you’ll find this year’s Wisconsin State Capitol ornament, which celebrates the architectural and artistic State Capitol Rotunda. The proceeds from ornament sales go to the State Capitol Restoration fund. Also available are fridge magnets, socks, coasters, playing cards, hats, books, totes, and historic bird’s-eye view posters of Madison and many, many more cities!

HISTORY MAKER SPACE

As construction continues on the new Wisconsin History Center, the downtown retail shop remains in the History Maker Space, located in the U.S. Bank Plaza at 1 S. Pinckney St. Head to the "glass bank" on Capitol Square to explore the shop and catch the upcoming pop-up exhibit Evergleam Dreams, featuring a nostalgic mid-century holiday display and vintage holiday treasures.

ORANGE TREE IMPORTS

Supporting local businesses is always a great choice, especially during the holiday season when small retailers rely on our community’s support. Madison is home to many shops offering unique gifts that carry a local touch. One such store is Orange Tree Imports, a beloved fixture on Monroe Street for over 45 years. They offer a curated selection of Wisconsin-made items both in-store and online, including On Fourth Lake by Don Sanford and the Manna Cafe and Bakery Cookbook (former Madison Trust Partner) that make a perfect gift.

Black and White Madison Wisconsin Map Decor

Etsy

Whether you're looking for something meaningful for a loved one or a special treat for yourself, Etsy’s wide range of handmade, artisanal, and customizable products makes it easy to find a gift that’s both thoughtful and distinctive. Plus, shopping on Etsy supports small businesses and artisans, making your holiday purchases feel even more special. You can find number of gifts featuring Madison including Black and White Madison Wisconsin Map Decor, custom Madison coasters featuring iconic places in our community, and a print of the University of Wisconsin Armory and Gymnasium (Red Gym) with many other special buildings in the shop such as the Camp Randall arch. Do you know a fan of historic buildings? See these prints of The Old Fashioned and the Majestic Theatre. Maybe your recipients have a soft spot for more abstract designs and this ornament may be a perfect gift!

Around Wisconsin

Brisbane House

In a special offer, Madison Trust members may stay at the Brisbane House this winter for a 25 percent discount. Accommodating up to 10 people, this Airbnb was a 2022 Historic Preservation Award recipient. There are trails to hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, and even a sledding hill next door. A gas fireplace in the living room and hot chocolate in the kitchen guarantee a cozy winter weekend away. Book directly with Samantha Crownover at 608-576-6696 or samanthacrownover@sbcglobal.net. Visit brisbanehouse.net to check availability.

Madison Trust members - receive 25% off December - April stays with 2 guests $275/night, up to 6 guests $475/night, up to 10 guests $750/night.

We will be sending an email directly to members with the discount code. If you miss the email, just reach out to us!

TALIESIN PRESERVATION

Treat tea lovers to something special this season with the Frank Lloyd Wright Tea Gift Set. This elegant three-piece collection includes a custom stoneware cup, a matching tray, and a beautifully crafted presentation box filled with 10 pyramid infusers, offering five artisanal blends such as Citrus Earl Grey and Spiced Herbal Maté. It’s the perfect gift for those who appreciate both design and fine tea.

HISTORIC MILWAUKEE

Historic Milwaukee, Inc. offers a wonderful online shop featuring a wide range of unique Milwaukee and Wisconsin-themed gifts. From a Milwaukee skyline ornament and Old Fashioned puzzle to Historic Milwaukee walking tour cards and Frank Lloyd Wright inspired aprons, there's something special for everyone on your list. Their convenient Holiday E-Catalog makes shopping easy—simply click on the links embedded in the catalog to explore items. If you're in Milwaukee, don’t miss the chance to stop by the Historic Milwaukee retail shop for even more locally-inspired treasures!

We send our very best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and happy new year to all!

Madison TrustNovember 30, 2024