The 20th annual Butler Symphony House Tour serves dual purposes: raising money for a "note"-worthy organization and giving a glimpse inside some of the historic county's more noteworthy homes.

An always popular event drawing upward of 700 people, today's milestone tour pairs homes "full of history" with those that feature dramatic contemporary designs.

"From city streets to wide open country, this tour has it all," says the booklet for the tour, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jennifer Nanni believes visitors will have the same jaw-dropping reaction she had when she first walked inside 501 N. McKean St.

"The woodwork is insane. It's gorgeous. There's stained glass everywhere. I was carrying a baby in a carrier, and I just about dropped them both on the floor," she said.

Twelve years later, the Nanni family moved in. They've been living there since September 2008.

"It's a dream come true," she said.

Built in 1902 in the Federal style by the Abrams family, the home of Michael and Jennifer Nanni, both pharmacists, showcases Palladian and elliptical windows, stained glass and attention to historic detail.

The parlor, living room and dining room on the first floor evoke a bygone era by virtue of its fireplaces, decorative woodwork and period wallpapers.

Built-in linen closets and a dumb-waiter on the second floor testify to the building's history while wood paneling, crown molding and Corinthian columns exude charm.

Just a stone's throw away is the 100-year-old Victorian at 619 N. McKean St., where owners Tom and Stacy Panei. have woven their passion for family history, craftsmanship and art into this restored beauty.

The two-story house features a multitude of fireplaces and historic furniture, some of which has been handed down within the family.

Among the interesting pieces in the house is a rare Mathushek baby grand piano and vintage instruments, including a dulcimer. Personal touches, like Mr. Panei's guitar and a photo portrait of his wife, take center stage.

Also in Downtown Butler is the Rose Haven Bed and Breakfast at 605 N. Main St., owned by Leo and Debby Carey Feo. Built 184 years ago as a wedding gift for business pioneer Henry Eisenmiller and his bride, this two-story home is packed with antiques and artful pieces that focus on international culture and local history.

The house is packed with two trailers-full of antiques that have been accumulated by Ms. Carey Fao. Overall there are 100 displays, 47 complete sets of china and several original paintings dating to the late 1800s.

The entry hall and parlor is graced with paintings from the American Victorian era; the great room boasts a long dining table and hand-carved side board with a wall devoted to antique mirrors. The upstairs is divided into three bedrooms and two baths where French Louis XVI furnishings and Italian decor are employed. A marble-faced fireplace and a brass-legged bathtub are among the second-floor focal points.

Just west of the city at 114 Aubrey Drive is the dramatic home of Bryan and Hollie Stevenson. Overlooking the Dubbs Dred golf course, its decor turns a spotlight on comfort and family history.

Double front doors, a high foyer with an intricate metal chandelier and an Eagle Harris table are among the eye-catching elements. But, the show-stopping feature of the property is the two-story family room with a fireplace mantel above which is a mirror -- a full-story-and-a-half in height -- that reflects an interior catwalk and stairway.

The family room opens to the breakfast area and kitchen.

Upstairs, the master bath features a dressing table flanked by two lavatories and a shower stall with tile walls and a glass block enclosure. Above the tub is a see-through fireplace shared with the bedroom.

The hilltop home of John and Linda Buckner at 104 Thornbrook Drive, just south of Butler, is set on property that boasts a carriage house, barn and pasture for a family of alpacas. The combination speaks of the exotic as well as rustic homeyness.

Sunlit and decorated in whimsical and nautical themes, the first floor boasts a high vaulted foyer and sweeping views of the property. Upstairs are five bedrooms and three full baths.

The carriage house sits atop a three-car garage and the barn is home to 16 alpacas.

At 7 Pine Needles Lane, also south of Butler, is a Colonial-style home that bespeaks openness and friendliness. Owned by Dennis and Ann Baglier, the house was designed by Mr. Baglier with an open floor plan whose windows provide sumptuous views of the 14-acre property that once was part of the Pine Needles golf course. The panoramic surroundings can also be enjoyed from a front porch, a balcony, a deck, and a patio.

Highlights include a first-floor wet bar with its own ventilation system to remove cigar smoke, watercolors by local artist Bill Rettig and a vertical triptych of pandas.

Tickets for the 20th annual Butler Symphony House Tour are $18 today at the symphony office, 259 S. Main St., Downtown Butler. A soup and salad lunch will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hill United Presbyterian Church at 501 Second St. in Butler for $5. The Hill Youth Chorale will perform. A cookie reception at the church, which dates to 1912, will follow the tour.

Doug Oster writes a blog, "Growing With Doug," exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.