Thomas S. Sprague House

The Thomas S. Sprague House is a three-story residence built in the Queen Anne style with triple windows featuring stained glass panels throughout. An octagonal turret and varied surface materials give the exterior its distinctive appearance and architectural character.

William Scott & Company built this residence in 1884 for real estate developer Thomas S. Sprague, who made it his home until 1901. The building received National Register of Historic Places designation in 1986, recognizing its importance to American architectural history.

The house reflects how Detroit's wealthy class chose to build their homes during the city's industrial boom in the late 1800s. Such residences show how successful industrialists used their homes to display their prosperity.

The house is located in Midtown Detroit and can be viewed from the outside, like many historic homes in this neighborhood. Walking through the area lets you see the building alongside other period homes of similar style and construction.

The interior preserved its original gas-electric chandeliers and butternut fireplace with an asymmetrical mantelpiece for nearly 100 years. These details reveal how wealthy households adapted their lighting and heating during the shift from gas to modern electricity.