Top 4 Houses To See In Hamilton's Dayton Lane Historic District
Near the heart of the city, only a 15-minute walk from the revitalized downtown area and river, is the Dayton Lane Historic District, one of three historic districts in Hamilton on the National Register of Historic Places. From the 1870s until the 1890s, the area became the neighborhood of choice for Hamilton’s industrial barons who sought to out-build one another; Their contests resulted in a diverse set of over 200 impressive homes that showcase architectural styles from the last quarter of the 19th century. The neighborhood association today takes great pride and care to ensure the historic character remains intact.
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The Benninghofen House, the most well-known, was built by Hamilton’s first and most famous architect, Max Reutti, in the Queen Anne Style. The interior features an oak library, parquet floors, an elaborate staircase & 9 fireplaces. The home is now a boutique hotel and small event venue, offering public events throughout the week like group yoga or massage.
The Shuler Mansion is a Prairie style home with Italian Renaissance details built in 1910. The 8200 sq ft interior features a Rookwood Fireplace, quartered oak molding, leaded windows, and a a solid mahogany beamed ceiling. There are 22 rooms including 6 bathrooms. Be sure to note the 1913 Food high water marker on the porch.
The ‘Barbie House’ is a unique purple Queen Anne built in 1894. The 3300 sq foot home boasts 12 rooms, 2 ½ baths, 4 original fireplaces, original pocket doors, & woodwork. It is now a renovated AirBnB property.
McKinney Mansion (aka the Disney House), was constructed in 1883. The house and carriage house are two of the finest examples of half-timbered Queen Anne architecture in the city. Interior features of the main house include 7 ornate Victorian fireplace mantels, 15 bucolic paintings of rural settings, intricately patterned wood floors, along with stained and leaded glass windows including an elaborate tri-part Oriel window.