Take a Cruise to the Victorian Summer Retreat of a Chicago Beer Baron
Black Point Estate was built for Chicago Beer Baron, Conrad Seipp, in 1888 as a retreat, and in that spirit the home remains a place to relax, refresh, and explore. Just like the Victorian VIPs who established the estate, you’ll arrive in style and enjoy stunning Geneva Lake views on your cruise to this magnificent summer home, considered one of the finest examples of period architecture and furniture in the Midwest, and one of the oldest homes in Lake Geneva.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Get the Best Deal in History
Unlock incredible value for historic year-round fun!
All Wisconsin Historical Society members enjoy unlimited free admission to our 11 historic sites and museums, exclusive merchandise and special event discounts, a complimentary annual subscription to the Wisconsin Magazine of History and more. Join at the Family level and above for added benefits and discounts at over 1,200 organizations nationwide!
Black Point Estate and Gardens
Step into Gilded Age elegance at the 1888 Summer home of Chicago beer baron, Conrad Seipp. Guests enjoy a narrated boat ride to the property via the Lake Geneva Cruise Line, a guided tour of the mansion, & time to relax and sip Seipp beer on the veranda.
2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Over the next 250 days we will be highlighting historic people, places or things from around Walworth County.
Up next is the Elgin Club.
In 1874, a couple of men from Elgin, Illinois enjoyed fishing on Geneva Lake so much they offered to buy a lakeshore lot or two. The owner of the 16-acre property declined the offer, saying “all or nothing.” The men returned to Elgin, recruited friends and neighbors, raised the money, and purchased the 16-acre parcel for $400.
Elgin Club is one of the oldest associations established on the lake. Members camped in tents until rustic cabins and a communal clubhouse could be built. More members were added, improvements made, and properties passed down to through families.
Today the Elgin Club is still comprised of 20 homes, three of which belong to descendants of the original founders. The 150th anniversary celebration in 2024 featured games, a parade, food, music, and memories of times past.
Walworth@250 #29 ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
The house on the bottom right of the postcard is one of my favorite houses on the entire lakeshore; It is so unique! I was glad to see them refurbishing it over the past couple of years.
Our next Movie Monday with the Lake Geneva Public Library is 2/2/2026. We will be viewing the 2012 film Mud starting Matthew McConaughey.
NOTE: Due to construction underway at the Lake Geneva Public Library this screening will take place at The Lake Geneva City Hall.
Two young boys help an outlaw (Academy Award®-winner Matthew McConaughey) reunite with the love of his life (Academy Award®-winner Reese Witherspoon) in this gripping adventure tale. After meeting a mysterious man named Mud (McConaughey) on a deserted island, two local boys soon learn that a band of ruthless vigilantes are hot on his trail. Forming a secret pact, they agree to help the fugitive contact his one true love in this moving and intense film.
The screeing is at 2PM and as always, free and open to everyone so come out, enjoy an afternoon of cinema and make some new freinds in the process. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
and a heartthrob
2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Over the next 250 days we will be highlighting historic people, places or things from around Walworth County.
Up next is Chief Simon Onanguisse Kahquados.
Chief Simon Onanguisse Kahquados was the last direct descendant from a long line of Potawatomi chiefs in Wisconsin. His engaging stories and spoken history gave light to much native history that would otherwise be lost.
Chief Onanguisse taught himself how to read and write in English therefore he often acted as a translator for historians who came seeking his knowledge of the Native Americans that inhabited Wisconsin before settlers arrived.
Walworth@250 #28 ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
looks like Mighty Mike Tyson
Our shameful past, we can at the very least honor the race of people we destroyed