Wandering Wauwatosa: 2025 Tour of Homes

Explore five remarkable properties that showcase different eras and architectural styles in Wauwatosa’s history. Each location offers unique insights into the varied purposes these historic buildings have served throughout our community’s development. This tour is crafted for adult guests, with complimentary admission for infants under 1 year. Please note that the nature of our tour makes it inaccessible to strollers or wagons, so infants will need to be worn or carried.

Tour Properties

Captain Henry and Catherine Leisk House, 2114 Wauwatosa Avenue

Discover the elegance of Queen Anne Eastlake architecture in this 1888 masterpiece. Built for Great Lakes mariner Captain Henry Leisk and his wife Catherine, this ornately detailed home showcases the fine craftsmanship of the late 19th century. The house later became home to the Warren family, whose ancestors were among Wauwatosa’s earliest settlers.

Former Home for Dependent Children, 9480 Watertown Plank Road

Tour the 1898 Administration Building that once served Milwaukee County’s most vulnerable children. This Colonial Revival structure, now housing Milwaukee County Parks headquarters, stands as the sole survivor of the original four-building campus that provided temporary residence for over 500 children during the Depression era.

Eschweiler Manor, 9841 Eschweiler Drive*

Experience the stunning transformation of this 1912 Engineering Building into a remarkable 7,000-square-foot home. Saved from demolition and meticulously restored, this former Milwaukee County School of Agriculture building now blends historic character with modern luxury, featuring original maple floors, salvaged dormitory brick fireplaces, and restored windows.

*Please see note below on parking at this tour stop

Wauwatosa East High School Lobby, 7500 Milwaukee Avenue

View the newly rediscovered Art Deco murals by Federal Arts Project artist Myron Nutting, hidden behind plaster for decades before their restoration in 2004. The lobby also showcases exceptional handmade tiles from the Continental Faience & Tile Company, with historian Ben Tyjeski sharing their remarkable story.

Kneeland-Walker Home, Carriage House & Cider Shed, 7406 Hillcrest Drive

Explore the behind the scenes areas of this 1889-1890 mansion and the estate’s historic outbuildings. The two-story carriage house preserves four intact horse stalls alongside modern adaptations, while the modest cider shed recalls the agricultural rhythms that once defined this area. Don’t miss the 1889 Gordon-style printing press in the home’s basement that helped tell Wauwatosa’s earliest stories.

About the Tour

The Tour of Homes is one of three flagship fundraising events held by the Wauwatosa Historical Society each year. This year marks the 36th tour that the Wauwatosa Historical Society has hosted this beloved event!

This year the tour, entitled “Wandering Wauwatosa”, will be held on October 4th, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour will feature three historic homes and two historic buildings throughout Wauwatosa.

Homeowners and building caretakers who have so generously agreed to share their properties will open their doors to the public and to docents that will share the histories and stories of the past.

All proceeds from the Tour of Homes directly and immediately benefit the Wauwatosa Historical Society, enabling us to carry out our mission of collecting, preserving and sharing the history of our great city!

Ticket Purchase

Tickets: $35 general admission | $30 for WHS members (discount code sent via email)

Day-of ticket purchases can be made at the Kneeland-Walker House and the Former Home for Dependent Children!

Not a member? Join today through our Membership page to receive your Tour of Homes discount.

Booklet Pick Up

All tour-goers will receive a Tour Booklet to guide them through the Tour. If tickets were purchased ahead of time, booklets can be picked up the day of the tour at either the Kneeland-Walker House (7406 Hillcrest Drive) or the Home for Dependent Children (9480 W Watertown Plank Rd), where you will begin your tour. Day-of ticket purchases can be made at the Kneeland-Walker House and the Former Home for Dependent Children!