David Davis Mansion, Bloomington

About David Davis Mansion

The David Davis Mansion, also known as Clover Lawn, is a state historic site in Bloomington where visitors tour a 36-room Victorian home completed in 1872. The three-story yellow-brick mansion combines Italianate and Second Empire architectural features and showcases mid-nineteenth-century life. Visitors see elegant furnishings and technological innovations of the era, including indoor plumbing, hot and cold running water, central heating, and gas lighting. The home was designed by architect Alfred Piquenard and built primarily as a residence for Sarah Davis, wife of David Davis, who became a U.S. Supreme Court Justice appointed by Abraham Lincoln. The property encompasses 4.1 acres with original outbuildings including an 1872 wood house, 1850s barn and stable, carriage barn, foaling shed, privies, and an ornamental flower garden. The circular drive remains as originally configured. The National Historic Landmark tells the story of Illinois's role in American history during the Civil War era and Reconstruction period.