808 Sunset Avenue, Evansville, IN 47713

Commanding a distinguished presence on historic Sunset Avenue, Semper Fulgens is a masterwork of early 20th-century residential architecture—its elegance born of F. Manson Gilbert’s fusion of English Tudor gravitas and Italianate refinement. Commissioned in 1912 by developer and hotelier William Sonntag, the residence was the inaugural jewel of Sunset’s envisioned “Gold Coast.” Its enduring clay tile roof, leaded glass emblazoned with the Sonntag crest Semper Fulgens, and carved stone balustrades testify to an era when craftsmanship was a higher order. Approached through manicured grounds, the home welcomes both park-facing receptions and intimate gatherings in its European villa gardens. Inside, stately proportions and cultivated detail abound. The walnut-paneled den, relocated and preserved from the original dining room, reflects the artistry of the Karges family—renowned furniture makers whose stewardship imbued the estate with Old World opulence and thoughtful innovation. … read more …