Bressmer-Baker House
- Historic building
- In Springfield, Illinois
- 0.2 mi from Route 66
- National Register of Historic Places
The Bressmer-Baker House in Springfield, IL, is a Queen Anne landmark with a copper-domed turret found nowhere else in the city. It began as an 1853 house and was redesigned twice, first for merchant John Bressmer and then for businessman William B. Baker in 1889. After years as law offices, it and neighboring properties now operate as short-term rentals called The Bressmer, just 0.3 mile off the old road.
What is Bressmer-Baker House?
The house you see today is the work of architect Charles Wesley Shinn, whose Queen Anne design has lasted well over a century. Its showpiece is the turret with a copper dome on the southeast corner, the only turret like it in Springfield. The rest of the design is happily varied: an irregular floor plan, a mix of materials on the outside, gables of different shapes, and tall chimneys.
The building has changed roles over the years. It housed law offices for a time, and today it and nearby properties are rented out together to short-stay guests, branded as The Bressmer.
History of Bressmer-Baker House
Hiram Walker put up the first house on the lot in 1853. Two years later he sold it to John Bressmer, a merchant, who had architect Thomas Dennis rework it. The property passed through several owners until William B. Baker, a businessman, bought it in 1889 and brought in Shinn to redesign it again. It joined the National Register in June 1982.
Visiting Bressmer-Baker House: tips
The house is about 0.3 mile off the old road. Because it operates as rentals, the inside is for guests; everyone else can enjoy the turret and gables from the sidewalk while respecting the privacy of people staying there. A few minutes covers the exterior. Within about 0.3 mile you will also find the Elijah Iles House, the Price/Wheeler House and the Vachel Lindsay House, so it anchors an easy walk past historic Springfield homes.
Practical info
- Address
- 913 South 6th Street, Springfield, IL 62703
- Phone
- +1 562-684-7483
- Website
- thebressmer.com
- Hours
- Daily 9–5
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
Where to eat near Bressmer-Baker House
All diners on Route 66 →
On the map
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Questions about Bressmer-Baker House
Can you stay at the Bressmer-Baker House?
Yes. It and surrounding properties are rented to short-stay guests as The Bressmer; check the operator's website for details.
What makes the house unusual?
No other turret in Springfield has a copper dome like the one on its southeast corner.
Own or run Bressmer-Baker House? Send us a photo or a correction.