Milwaukee Avenue Historic District

Milwaukee Avenue Historic District is a residential area containing 78 Victorian brick houses built with matching designs on small quarter-lot parcels. Each house features wooden porches and ornamental details that show how residents lived during the late 1800s.

William Ragan developed this residential area in 1883, building approximately 46 uniform houses as affordable housing for railroad workers. The area gradually expanded over the following decades as more Victorian-style homes were added.

The district grew from a Scandinavian immigrant settlement and attracted professors, students, and artists starting in the 1960s. You can still feel this mix of backgrounds in how residents have personalized their homes and use the shared spaces.

The best way to experience the area is with a slow walk along the street to notice the details of each house. The paved walkways are easy to navigate and allow you to enjoy the neighborhood at your own pace.

Local residents successfully fought against demolition plans in the 1970s and saved these houses from being torn down. The street was then transformed into a pedestrian-only area, fundamentally changing how people experience the place.