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Image of the Black Point Estate at sunset

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Take a Cruise to the Victorian Summer Retreat of a Chicago Beer Baron

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Catharina Seipp sits by a window

Visiting Black Point Estate & Gardens feels like you are stepping back into a 19th-century dinner party, as you enjoy the cool lake breezes on the mansion’s veranda, sip Seipp beer, and hear the soothing sounds of the 1911 Chickering piano. After enjoying a 45-minute scenic boat tour of beautiful Geneva Lake, you will arrive at the expansive and elegant estate, spanning eight acres of land and 620 feet of undisturbed shoreline.  

The jewel of the experience is your 90-minute tour of the first two floors of the Queen Anne-style mansion that includes 20 rooms. The home features a collection of beautiful Victorian furniture, as well as pieces from later generations that help tell the story of this dynastic Wisconsin family through the years. The original furnishings remained in the house while each generation added its own touches. Today, the home is a rare time capsule that spans Wisconsin history, with décor spanning from its Victorian beginnings into the new millennium.

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Black Point Estate & Gardens is Travel Green certified!


Things To Explore

1888 VICTORIAN MANSION

A guided tour takes guests through the first two floors of this beautiful Queen Anne-style summer cottage, considered one of the finest examples of period architecture and furniture in the Midwest, and one of the oldest mansions in Lake Geneva. The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

ESTATE AND GARDENS

Outside the mansion, the estate truly comes alive in the enchanting gardens and wrap-around veranda surrounding the home. The massive lawn, a popular spot for special events, evokes memories of outdoor games played on leisurely summer days. Located on top of a bluff overlooking Geneva Lake, this site offers a stunning, picturesque view of the lake and surrounding countryside.

GENEVA LAKE

There were no roads leading to Black Point for the Seipp family. Just like they did, you’ll arrive to the estate by water via a 45-minute scenic boat ride courtesy of Lake Geneva Cruise Line that is included with your admission Feel the cool lake air as you hear more about the history of the Lake Geneva area.

The porch in front of Black Point Estate

Plan Your Visit

to the Victorian Summer Retreat of a Chicago Beer Baron


Learn with the Wisconsin Historical Society

Field Trips

The best day of your school year awaits! Don’t just read about history, experience it! Field Trips at the Wisconsin Historical Society’s historic sites and museums allow students to step into the worlds they’re studying through fun adventures and engaging experiences around the state for grades k-12. 

Wisconsin Historical Society Sites

Black Point Estate & Gardens is one of the 12 historic sites and museums owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Explore all of these sites below.