Hamlin Garland House

The Hamlin Garland House is a Victorian residence built in the 1800s with two stories and period details throughout its rooms. The structure includes indoor plumbing and sits on grounds shaded by mature maple trees that frame the property.

Novelist Hamlin Garland bought the house in 1893 using money from his published short stories. He lived there through the early 1900s while continuing to write about rural American life.

The house shows how a celebrated writer lived and worked in the rural Midwest, revealing the connection between home life and creative practice. Visitors can sense how Garland drew inspiration from his surroundings for his stories about farming communities.

The house operates today as a museum managed by the local historical society in West Salem. Visitors should confirm opening hours ahead of time since schedules can change with the seasons.

During a fire in 1912, Garland threw his valuable manuscripts out the windows to save them from the flames. This quick thinking preserved important literary documents that could have been destroyed.

Location: Wisconsin

GPS coordinates: 43.89889,-91.08083

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:02