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. Brunschwig & Fils wallcoverings envelop formal rooms that balance grandeur with intimacy. The main level offers a gracious primary suite as a private sanctuary, complemented by an adjacent guest suite. Formal living and dining rooms, anchored by intricate moldings and period fixtures, invite both ceremonial entertaining and quiet reflection, while a sympathetically renovated kitchen unites modern culinary function with the home's historic narrative. Upstairs, reimagined by the Karges family, the residence reveals its adaptability and grace. Designed to function as a stately double, it offers complete independence while maintaining architectural harmony with the main floor. The great room mirrors its counterpart below, opening to a luminous sunroom positioned above the snug, while a private suite once housed the family's valet, Vittorio. A secondary kitchen underscores the space's versatility, suitable for intergenerational living, a guest retreat, or refined entertaining, alongside three additional bedrooms. Beyond the principal residence, the restored carriage house - originally three horse stalls and a groom's quarters - offers an architectural echo of the estate's pre-automobile past. Renovated by the current owners, it awaits reimagining as a guest retreat, artist's atelier, or private office. In every respect, Semper Fulgens remains true to its name - Always Shining - offering its next custodian not merely a place to reside, but a work of art to inhabit.