The Wisconsin State Capitol Building is a Beaux Arts-style building that was designed by George B. Post and built between 1906-1917 to house the state government. The building is the fourth state capitol building to house the state government and replaced the previous building, which burned down in 1904. The Capitol Building houses the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate, as well as the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor of Wisconsin.
The first capitol of Wisconsin was located in the village of Belmont, Wisconsin, before the state legislature chose Madison as the state capitol, and held sessions of the legislature in the Mississippi River port town of Burlington until a capitol building could be completed in Madison. The first capitol building was relatively humble and looked similar to older capitol buildings in the eastern United States. The second capitol building was constructed in 1857-1869 and expanded in 1882. It featured a dome inspired by the United Capitol Building, semi-circular porticoes with corinthian columns, and two short side wings with octagonal towers at the corners.
The present Wisconsin State Capitol Building was built on the site of the previous building and stands 284 feet tall with a greek cross footprint, four five-story wings, and a unique 45-degree angle orientation relative to the edges of Capitol Square and most buildings on adjacent streets. The building underwent a major renovation in the 1970s that covered up many original features, with later projects between 1988 and 2002 restoring the building while updating the building’s systems and functions for the modern needs of the state government.
The exterior of the building’s wings feature porticoes on the ends with corinthian columns, arched windows on the third floor, rusticated bases with entrance doors and decorative keystones, decorative reliefs featuring festoons over the windows on the porticoes, cornices with modillions and dentils, and pediments with sculptural reliefs. Each wing features a different sculpture with different symbolism embodied by their design. The sides of the wings feature simpler cornices with dentils, pilasters, and recessed window openings. The upper roofs of the wings are low-slope with front gabled portions in the middle punctured by skylights.
At the center of the building is the rotunda, which is topped with a large dome that rises from a tall base. The dome is the largest in the world to be entirely clad in granite and is the tallest building in Madison.
In conclusion, the Wisconsin State Capitol Building is a historic and iconic building located in Madison, Wisconsin. The building has played an important role in the state’s government and history and is a symbol of the state’s rich heritage. With its unique design and rich history, the Wisconsin State Capitol Building is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting the city of Madison.