Villa Louis General Admission Begins

When you walk through the wood-grained double doors of the Villa Louis residence, you step into the fascinating life of one of Wisconsin’s most historic families—the Dousmans. Located on the banks of the Mississippi River on St. Feriole Island, the 25-acre Villa Louis site contains over a dozen historic structures. Other on-site locations in addition to the estate include the Brisbois House, the Rolette House, the Brisbois Stone Warehouse, a commercial icehouse, and Wisconsin’s only War of 1812 battlefield.

At the center of it all is the Villa Louis residence: an Italianate-style mansion and National Historic Landmark restored to include original furnishings owned by the Dousman family. Built over 150 years ago in the early 1870s, the estate boasted exceptionally rare conveniences and innovations for its time, including indoor plumbing and steam heat, which allowed the Dousmans to live in style and comfort across generations. Today the residence and outbuildings of Villa Louis are considered one of the most accurately restored Victorian estates in the U.S.A. The buildings and rooms reflect the British Arts and Crafts designs chosen by Louis and Nina Dousman to decorate their home.

May 21 – November 3, 2025 | Wednesday – Monday | 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.*

Tours at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., Noon, 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. (Capacity is limited for each tour time).