The Vilas neighborhood is surrounded by Regent St on the north, S. Randall Ave on East, Vilas Park Dr on South, Edgewood Ave and Monroe St on West. The neighborhood evolved from Wingra Park and Oakland Heights additions. Wingra Park was platted in 1889 and was the first suburb in Madison. The land in this area was originally owned by William Fish, but he initially had trouble selling it. The lots sold quickly in 1897 when the electric streetcar line was extended. These additions were annexed in 1903.
A major landmark in this area of the city is the Henry Vilas Zoo. The zoo was originally proposed as a park by John Olin to William Vilas. William and Anni Vilas purchased the land in 1904 and it was named after their son, Henry. The Henry Vilas Park is remains as one of Madison's oldest parks and provides ice skating, basketball, soccer, tennis and a beach. Bike paths run through it and children enjoy a playground. Henry Vilas Zoo came about when the Park and Pleasure Drive Association offered the park a herd of five deer. They were housed at Vilas Park and a zoo opened in 1911 with 9 deer, 3 groundhogs, 3 woodchucks, 2 guinea pigs, 2 rabbits, 2 white rats, 1 raccoon, 1 eagle, 1 squirrel and 1 toothless red fox. The Vilas family stipulated that the zoo would always remain free for the community's enjoyment.
An historic home in the neighborhood is the Leonard House, built in 1915 at 2015 Adams St. The house was built for poet, playwright and UW English professor William Ellery Leonard. The house is written about in his autobiography, The Locomotive God. Leonard taught at the UW until his death in 1944.
The area also contains several effigy mounds dating back to 700-1200 AD. On the western edge of Bear Mound Park is an 82 foot long bear, and there is one linear mound on a private residential property south of the circle. On the corner of Erin and Wingra Streets is another mound group containing a bird effigy, a linear mound and 6 conical mounds.
A major landmark in this area of the city is the Henry Vilas Zoo. The zoo was originally proposed as a park by John Olin to William Vilas. William and Anni Vilas purchased the land in 1904 and it was named after their son, Henry. The Henry Vilas Park is remains as one of Madison's oldest parks and provides ice skating, basketball, soccer, tennis and a beach. Bike paths run through it and children enjoy a playground. Henry Vilas Zoo came about when the Park and Pleasure Drive Association offered the park a herd of five deer. They were housed at Vilas Park and a zoo opened in 1911 with 9 deer, 3 groundhogs, 3 woodchucks, 2 guinea pigs, 2 rabbits, 2 white rats, 1 raccoon, 1 eagle, 1 squirrel and 1 toothless red fox. The Vilas family stipulated that the zoo would always remain free for the community's enjoyment.
An historic home in the neighborhood is the Leonard House, built in 1915 at 2015 Adams St. The house was built for poet, playwright and UW English professor William Ellery Leonard. The house is written about in his autobiography, The Locomotive God. Leonard taught at the UW until his death in 1944.
The area also contains several effigy mounds dating back to 700-1200 AD. On the western edge of Bear Mound Park is an 82 foot long bear, and there is one linear mound on a private residential property south of the circle. On the corner of Erin and Wingra Streets is another mound group containing a bird effigy, a linear mound and 6 conical mounds.
