The historical marker out front reads:
"This 8 sided five story house of solid brick construction was
built in the early 1850s by pioneer John Richards. It is the best
example in Wisconsin of an unusual architectural design which was
in vogue briefly before the Civil War. It was claimed to be
Wisconsin's largest single family residence when its 57 rooms,
closets and halls were completed. Most interesting feature is the
cantilever spiral staircase."
From the Watertown Historical Society web
site:
"The Octagon House, five floors of solid brick construction
completed in 1854, was designed and built by John Richards, a
pioneer Watertown settler. The House is one of the largest single
family residences of the Pre-Civil War Period in Wisconsin.
Richards arrived in Watertown, on foot, in the spring of 1837.
Once here he became the first lawyer in Jefferson County, as well
as the owner of several mills. In 1849 he married his sweetheart,
the former Eliza Forbes. He promised to build her the finest home
in the Wisconsin Territory if she would marry him.
Its construction includes central heating, running water and
ventilating systems. In addition to those "modern conveniences,"
the house features a central spiral staircase which rises from the
first floor to the tower room.
The Richards family and their descendants resided in the home
until 1937, when grandson William Thomas passed away. At that time
the remaining family members were faced with what to do with the
family home, which had become one of Watertown's' most recognizable
landmarks.
The Richards family offered to sell it to the city for $ 1, but
opposition from the city council and several citizens prevented
that from happening. The fledgling Watertown Historical Society
then came forward and arranged to purchase the home from the
Richards family on condition that it always be used as a public
museum.
The Octagon House was built in 1854 by pioneer settler John
Richards. He arrived in what is now Watertown in the spring of
1837. After buying a small farmstead located about-where Settler's
Bay restaurant now sits, he went back to Massachusetts and proposed
to his sweetheart, Eliza Forbes. She was the daughter of a
prominent innkeeper.
Richards promised if she agreed to accompany him back to the
wilds of Wisconsin territory, he would build her the finest and
most modem house he could. It took him 12 years to make good on
that promise, but when the home was finished, it was a marvel
craftsmanship. The home still elicits exclamations of amazement to
visitors.
Built into the home, which was designed and overseen by
Richards, were rudimentary forms of running water, central air
conditioning and central heating. For 1854, these were unheard of
luxuries. Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the home is the
central cantilevered staircase which rises majestically 40 feet
through the center of the home, ending at the top with a cupola.
The staircase shows no sign of wear, despite 150 years of
continuous use.
The home has five stories and visitors are treated to fully
guided tours, hourly. Visitors to the Octagon House can also tour
the First Kindergarten in America and the Plank Road Barn, both of
which are located on the museum grounds.
Since 1938 the Octagon House has been open to the public.
Information for visitors:
House open to Visitors Daily from May through October
Admission fees are:
$7.00 for adults
$6.00 for senior citizens and AAA members
$4.00 for children 6 to 17 years of age
School groups, 20 or more, $3.50 each
Hours of operation are 10:00 to 4:00 daily (11:00 to 3:00 after
Labor Day to October 31--then closed for the season; Opens May
1--hours are 11:00 to 3:00 from May 1st to Memorial Day)
Tours are fully guided every hour on the hour in an air-
conditioned museum.