Georgia O'Keeffe's Formative World
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Description
Select "Driving Directions" for a tour of the Sun Prairie area with stops exploring Georgia O'Keeffe's childhood
This tour was curated by: Sun Prairie Historical Library and Museum
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1. Georgia O'Keeffe at the Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum
Start your tour of "Georgia O'Keeffe’s Formative World" at the Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum. A world-renowned artist, Georgia was born on a farm southeast of the current city center on November 15, 1887, and spent the first 14 years of her life in the Sun Prairie area. Called the "Mother of American modernism," O'Keeffe gained international recognition for her meticulous paintings of natural forms. She is best known for her flowers and desert-inspired landscapes, which were often drawn from and related to places and environments in which she lived.[1]The Museum houses an ongoing exhibit depicting Georgia’s time in Sun Prairie, including photos of her and various prints of her works. There is an “O’Keeffe original” at the museum, but it is the work of Georgia’s sister, Ida O’Keeffe, who was also an acclaimed artist, albeit less renowned. The Museum also sponsors the Georgia O’Keeffe Research Nook, where Museum visitors can review a curated collection of art catalogs, books, and in-house research related to O’Keeffe.
2. Georgia O'Keeffe's Birthplace
Leaving the Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum, head east on Main Street for 0.4 miles. Turn right onto County Hwy N / Grove Street and proceed for 2.6 miles. Turn left onto County Road T and proceed approximately 1 mile toward the junction with Town Hall Drive. Just before the junction with Town Hall Drive, the white home on your right at 2407 County Road T has a small marker noting the site as Georgia O’Keeffe’s birthplace.A home belonging to the Tottos, Georgia’s maternal grandparents, existed on the site in 1873. After their marriage in 1884, Georgia’s parents, Ida and Francis O’Keeffe, moved to the site and either rebuilt or expanded the structure.[1] The home was a generously proportioned frame house with large rooms and a substantial barn. Georgia reportedly remembered hay loads at dusk, wagons slowly winding down the road, apple trees she loved to climb, the crunch of snow at night, an enormous round moon coming up over the woods, the little low place in the meadow where she played alone, and the blue sky overhead.[2] The original home was sold by the O’Keeffes in 1903 when they moved to Williamsburg, Virginia and was destroyed by accidental fire in 1976.
3. O'Keeffe and Totto Family Farmland
Departing the site of Georgia O’Keeffe’s birthplace, turn right onto Town Hall Drive. As you look down the road, all the land to your right (west) was owned by the O’Keeffe family, with additional holdings further down on the left side of the road. On the right you will approach a blue sided home with a large burr oak tree in front at the top of a small rise. This was the original home of Pierce and Catherine O’Keeffe, Georgia’s paternal grandparents, who arrived in July of 1848. The home has been remodeled and many of the outbuildings and barn structures associated with the farmhouse have been removed. Although Georgia never knew her paternal grandfather, who died in 1869, she undoubtedly would have strolled down this road to visit with her grandmother Catherine during her youth.Pierce and Catherine O’Keeffe raised four boys in the household, with Francis, Georgia’s father, being the third born in 1852. After Pierce’s death, Francis and his brothers worked the farm with Francis ultimately taking the lead role in consolidating the O’Keeffe and Totto land holdings after his older brothers passed away in the 1880s. Francis O’Keeffe’s farming interest eventually amounted to some 600 acres. Georgia would later relate, “Papa had a prize farm; there was no better one in Sun Prairie. Although he had plenty of farm help, he worked from dawn to dark.”[1]
4. Town Hall School - Georgia's First School
Make a U-Turn on Town Hall Drive and proceed north back toward County Road T. Cross the County Road T intersection and stop near the rise of the hill. To the right is a private residence that was once Town Hall for the Township of Sun Prairie, constructed in 1868. To the left is land that was owned by the Tottos and the location of the Town Hall School, District #5, constructed circa 1868. Georgia first attended grade school here, just across the road in front her home, in 1891.Both the Totto and O'Keeffe families had close ties to the Town Hall School. School records as early as 1869 include payments to G. Totto, Catherine O'Keeffe, Peter O'Keeffe, and Francis O'Keeffe for services performed. These services included painting, cleaning, building fires, and providing materials like desks, flags, and firewood. Alletta (Ollie) Totto, Georgia's favorite aunt, taught the spring term in the Town Hall School from 1879-1882. Her wages on June 1, 1882 amounted to fifty-four dollars for the past school term.[1]
5. Sarah Mann Home - Georgia's Art Teacher
Head north on Town Hall Drive. Observe the rolling fields much as Georgia would have on her roughly hour-long horse and wagon trips to town for her early art lessons with Sarah Mann. At the junction of Highway 19 / East Main Street, turn left toward downtown Sun Prairie. This section of Highway 19 was designated the Georgia O’Keeffe Memorial Highway in 2005. Entering downtown Sun Prairie, note the Wisconsin Historical Society marker next to the city municipal building that describes Georgia’s early years.Continuing west, the Sun Prairie Downtown Historic District has preserved many of the buildings as they were during Georgia’s time. Note the “Old City Hall” building at the corner of East Main and North Bristol Street. Constructed in 1895, when Georgia was 8 years old, this building was a celebrated achievement for the growing community and anchored the downtown district that Georgia passed on her way to lessons. Turn right onto North Street. The residence at 173 North Street was Sarah Mann’s home, the site of early art training for Georgia and two of her sisters.
6. O'Keeffe Family - Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church and Cemetery
Continue north on North Street and turn right onto Windsor Street. Make a right turn at the intersection with Bristol Street and in approximately 500 feet turn left onto Cliff Street. At the end of Cliff Street is the Sun Prairie Water Tower, built in 1899. Turn left onto Columbus Street to view the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church at 221 Columbus Street. The O’Keeffe family were founding members and Pierce O’Keeffe, Georgia’s grandfather, was a trustee of the church. Pierce and his family attended weekly services in their own family pew. The church building seen today was constructed in 1921, after Georgia’s time in Sun Prairie.Continue north on Columbus Street and proceed to Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Cemetery. Here lies Georgia’s father, three uncles, and paternal grandparents.
