In addition to its beer and brewing culture, famous sports teams, beautiful lakefront, and being home to one of the most famous music festivals in the world, Milwaukee is also well-known for its historical architecture. From the Art Deco of the Wisconsin Gas Building to the Flemish Renaissance Revival of the Pabst Mansion and Milwaukee City Hall to the Gothic style of St. Joan of Arc Chapel at Marquette, Milwaukee’s rich history lends itself to a wide array of architectural beauties. This rich history is even reflected in the more than 130,000 residential homes across the city, including a few designed by Wisconsin-native Frank Lloyd Wright. 

What’s even more unusual and stunning about Milwaukee’s architecture is that it varies in style not by neighborhood, but by “concentric circles around the center of the city, like rings in the trunk of a tree,” according to data mapped by Marquette University research fellow John Johnson. These layers reflect Milwaukee’s history and the events that have shaped the city over time. 

Knowing about the city’s history makes looking for and touring homes that much more exciting. From bungalows to Polish cottages, history is mirrored by the vast variety in home styles throughout the city. Let’s take a look at the most popular home styles in Milwaukee:

Bungalow/Craftsman 

Bungalow style homes began popping up around Milwaukee in the 1910s. The bungalow style has recently become extremely popular once again in the architectural world. Known for their street-facing gables and wide, overhanging eaves, bungalow style homes are often painted in natural colors to blend with nature and usually have shingled roofs. A classic bungalow typically has a modest porch and squared columns. The interior will often have 1.5 stories and an open floor plan with a lot of built-ins.

Raised Cottage/Polish Flat

Known also as “Polish flats” only in Milwaukee, these homes started showing up in the 1910s in the city as a means of creating multiple family homes, or duplexes. Cottages were raised in order to make a living space in the basement to be rented to other families. Today, some of these “Polish flats” have been reconverted into single family homes, but many remain as duplexes. In fact, Milwaukee is the city with the most duplexes in the entire United States, making it a very densely populated city in comparison to other cities similar in size.

Colonial Houses

Colonial houses are somewhat simply architectured, symmetrical, and are at least two stories high. These homes often have crown molding and detailed fireplaces with formal front entryways. Their layouts lend themselves to large families, many times with four bedrooms upstairs, and the main living spaces are focal on family time.

Tudor Houses

Tudor homes are easily recognized by their decorative timber facades and white-stuccoes walls as well as their steep gable roofs and chimneys. These started to become more popular in Milwaukee during the 1930s and were more common in wealthier neighborhoods. They have slate shingles which are meant to mimic medieval architecture. The interiors typically feature wooden accents and a wooden staircase.

Cape Cod Houses

Cape cod style houses also began to show up in Milwaukee during the 1930s and 1940s. These are low and broad houses that feature simple silhouettes, shingled exteriors, and clean lines. They usually have a central chimney and are only one or two stories high. Beloved for their simplicity, the interiors usually have simple, traditional accents and are popular among younger buyers for their ability to be energy efficient due to their shape and build.

While these certainly aren’t the only styles of home found within Milwaukee’s diverse array, they are easily spotted and are timelessly popular. The richness of the city’s history can be found simply by taking a drive down any street, and while looking for a home you’re bound to come across each of these styles and more. Whatever vision you have for your future home, Milwaukee and Wisconsin have something to offer everyone!