American Tobacco Co. Warehouse

These two buildings are the most substantial warehouses built in Madison to house the processing of leaf tobacco.From the Civil War until the 1940s, leaf tobacco was among Dane County's most lucrative crops.The tobacco grown in Wisconsin was typically used for chewing and cigar smoking, a hugely popular men's pastime before cigarettes eclipsed cigars after WW I. In their heyday over 350 men, boys, women and girls worked in these two buildings during the six month winter season.Designated March 2, 1992