This example of Victorian architecture, declared a National Historic Landmark in 1975, is known for its fish-scale shingles, Asian-style porch decorations, long-leaf pine inlaid floors, and double-flue chimney with walk-through stairway and cantilevered balcony. Built between 1884 and 1885, it was the winter cottage for a prosperous shoe merchant, C. W. Lapham of Chicago. As a survivor of the Great Chicago Fire, Lapham wanted to make his winter cottage as safe as possible. This explains why, in the 19 rooms in this cottage, there are 45 doors, 26 of them exterior. All of the 53 windows open from the bottom up and the top down.