National Register of Historic Places

Fess Hotel

Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin
Listed
September 20, 1978
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78003204

About this property

The Fess Hotel was a hotel/restaurant begun by George Fess in the 1850s two blocks east of the capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Through various configurations and remodels, the hotel served all classes of travelers and diners under the Fess family until 1972 - one of the longest-running service establishments in Madison. Its exterior also showcases unusually intact 19th century architecture. In 1978 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2021, the building next to the Fess hotel was demolished, revealing the hotel's intact ghost sign on the side of the hotel.

Location

123 E. Doty Street
Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin
43.07439, -89.38018

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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The Civil War
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Nearby Historic Sites

Dick, Christian, Block
Industrial
0 mi
Simeon Mills Historic District
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Thompson's Block
Industrial
0.1 mi
United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Bellevue Apartment Building
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Wisconsin — Civil War Mutiny — 14th Wisconsin Infantry
1862Civil War
1.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fess Hotel listed on the National Register?

Fess Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 20, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Fess Hotel?

Fess Hotel is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fess Hotel?

The period of significance for Fess Hotel is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Fess Hotel?

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