In the heart of Oshkosh, a short distance from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, there’s an estate that’s simply incredible. The Paine Mansion is a unique place – it’s a house that never became a home, and it displays beautiful art in a building and grounds that’s a masterpiece in its own right. Even if you’re not into fine art, it’s worth paying a visit to Paine Art Center and Gardens. It’s one of the most beautiful mansions in Wisconsin.
The Paine Mansion was built with lumber wealth, constructed for a lumber baron named Nathan Paine and his wife, Jessie Kimberly Paine.
Google / Louis Hernandez
Construction on the project started in 1927, but it quickly stalled when the Great Depression crippled the Paine Lumber Company.
Google / Sanchari Haldereaphanie Hoffarth
The delay lasted years but eventually the project restarted in 1946. The Paines established a non-profit organization to own and manage the estate for public benefit. It would become a museum.
Facebook / Paine Art Center and Gardens
The Paines never lived in the home. The Tudor Revival-style mansion opened to the public in 1948. Today, it’s home to an incredible historic house museum with an art gallery and is surrounded by formal gardens.
Facebook / Paine Art Center and Gardens
The gallery has an impressive selection of American paintings, sculptures, and decorative woodworkings. The home also has Persian rugs, tapestries, and English and American silver and china.
Google / Christina Streiff
The grounds are as impressive as the home. The gardens are arranged into landscape “rooms,” and there are more than a thousand varieties of plants. They are gorgeous through all of the seasons!
Facebook / Paine Art Center and Gardens
The Paine offers tours of the property, and it frequently holds special events. Learn more on the Paine Art Center and Gardens website. Once you’ve taken in the Paine, there’s another historic building in Oshkosh worth exploring – this one is truly creepy.
Google / Louis Hernandez
Google / Sanchari Haldereaphanie Hoffarth
Facebook / Paine Art Center and Gardens
Google / Christina Streiff
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Address: Paine Art Center and Gardens, 1410 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI 54901, USA
