Sinclair Lewis Boyhood Home

The Sinclair Lewis Boyhood Home is a Gothic Revival residence built in the late 1800s located in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. The two-story wood-frame structure has a peaked gable roof and clapboard siding, with eight rooms furnished to show how the family lived during that era.

The house was built in the 1880s and became home to the Lewis family from 1889 to 1902, when the young resident later became a Nobel Prize-winning author. His father's medical practice operated from the home during these formative years.

The home reflects the daily life of an upper-middle-class family in the late 1800s, showing how a doctor's household operated and educated its children. Visitors can see how the family's surroundings shaped the young writer's early observations about small-town life.

Visits are offered through guided tours during the warmer months of the year, with limited hours available. The interior features original narrow stairs and uneven flooring typical of period homes, so wear comfortable shoes with good grip.

The home served as the model for a fictional small town in one of America's most celebrated novels of the 20th century. This connection between the actual residence and the fictional world it inspired offers readers a glimpse into how the writer transformed everyday observations into literature.

Location: Sauk Centre

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

Website: http://sinclairlewisfoundation.com/boyhood_home/boyhood_home.htm

GPS coordinates: 45.73731,-94.95736

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:05