The Lincoln–Tallman House is a historic house located in Janesville, Wisconsin. Built and constructed by the Tallman family, the house was once host to overnight guest U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.HistoryWilliam Tallman was a lawyer working in the East when he bought of land in Wisconsin Territory in the late 1840s. He moved his family to Janesville to keep a closer watch on his holdings. Construction of the home began in 1855 on a 3acre bluff overlooking the Rock River on what was then the north edge of Janesville. It was designed in the Italianate style. High-quality materials included Cream City brick, cast iron on the windows and black walnut doors with hand-carved panels. It contained many modern conveniences of the time, such as central heating, gas piping installed for lights, running water, walk-in closets with built-in storage drawers and an indoor privy. The original cost was $33,000. Additional work finished in 1870 brought the total to $42,000. The 60ft house has six floors and 20 rooms.The Tallman family resided there from 1857 to 1915. They donated the house to the city in 1950 on the condition that it be operated as a public museum.Lincoln visited Janesville October 1–3, 1859, a year before he was elected president. He had come to Rock County from Milwaukee, where he had spoken at the Wisconsin State Fair. William Tallman drove to Beloit to convince Lincoln to visit Janesville and stay at the Tallman house for the evening after a speech in Beloit. Lincoln then gave a speech in Janesville on Saturday, October 1, 1859. He left his boots outside his room at William Tallman's house at night, as was the custom, and didn't find them there in the morning. Because he was embarrassed to leave his room in stocking feet, he missed his train, so Tallman invited him to attend services at First Congregational Church with the family. Lincoln then stayed overnight and caught a train to Chicago on Monday, October 3, 1859. Lincoln's stay at the Tallman house is the only recorded time he stayed in a Wisconsin home.
"Historic Home built by William M. Tallman in 1857. Abraham Lincoln stayed in the home on October 1 & 2, 1859."
