The Durkee Mansion is open for touring throughout the months of April to October on
the 1st and 3rd weekends of the month, 1:30pm to 4:30pm.
Charles Durkee, a native of Royalton, Vermont, with his bride, Catherine, left New England in early 1836 and came to Wisconsin. Charles built a log cabin of Oak and Black Walnut in the area that would later be called Southport and later still, Kenosha. The Durkees loved the area and bought land extending from the center of town down to the lakefront. Their happiness, however, was to be short-lived. His 25 year old wife fell ill and died in their new home.
When Wisconsin gained territorial status in 1836, Durkee became a member of the new territorial legislature. He was instrumental in selecting the location of the Capital and in the development of a school for the area. Durkee served two terms in Congress between 1848 and 1853; he then returned to his favorite city, now known as Kenosha. He was elected United States Senator in the 1854 elections and returned to Washington D.C. where he championed workers rights and fought for progressive homestead laws.
In 1861, Durkee returned to Kenosha and began construction on the new home that he and his second wife, Caroline, had planned on 10 acres of land on the lake shore. The Durkee Mansion is a cream-brick, Italianate, Victorian home. It was constructed with an ornate wooden wraparound porch and a widow’s walk. One of the striking features is the suspension stairway, located in the foyer, which is the largest stairway of its type in the state. The bedrooms on the second floor have fireplaces, parquet floors and louvered windows.
The mansion is furnished with period furniture and fixtures and is open to the public. With its gracious feel and magnificent view of Lake Michigan, Durkee Mansion is a historic landmark recognized by the National Trust for Historic Places and The State Historical Society for Preservation of Wisconsin’s Landmarks. It is a fitting monument to this Kenoshan who exerted a major influence on national and local politics in his time.
Our Mission
To preserve the historic nature of our site and buildings, offer programs that promote an understanding of local
history and arts, and provide a historic setting for cultural, recreational, and educational activities.
