The Wisconsin State Capitol Building is a Beaux Arts-style building that was built between 1906 and 1917. It was designed by George B. Post and replaced the previous state capitol, which was destroyed by a fire in 1904. The building is the third building to sit on the present site and is the fourth state capitol to house the state government.
The first capitol of Wisconsin was located in the village of Belmont, and the legislature met in a hastily constructed wood-frame building. The decision was made to designate the future site of Madison as the state capitol, and the legislature met in Burlington until a capitol building could be constructed in Madison. The original building was humble and built in the Greek Revival style.
After the first state capitol was deemed inadequate for the growing government and population by the 1850s, it was demolished and replaced. This new building was designed in the Classical Revival-style, with Romanesque Revival elements added in 1882. The new building featured Corinthian columns, a dome inspired by the United Capitol Building, and two short side wings with octagonal towers. However, this building was also destroyed in the fire of 1904, leading to the construction of the present building.
The present building was built in stages due to financial limitations of the state government. The north wing was built last to allow the previous capitol building to serve as space for the state government during the construction period. The central rotunda and dome were also built after the other three wings were completed, symbolizing the less utilitarian purposes they serve. The building stands 284 feet tall and is the tallest building in Madison.
The exterior of the building is made of Bethel white granite, and the interior features 42 types of stone from eight states and six countries. The building has a Greek cross footprint, and the wings are aligned with the compass directions and radial streets. The surrounding street grid is at a 45-degree angle to the compass directions, roughly paralleling the shorelines of nearby Lake Mendota and Lake Monona.
The exterior of the wings feature porticoes with Corinthian columns, arched windows, and decorative reliefs featuring festoons over the windows on the porticoes. Each wing has a pediment with a sculptural relief embodying different symbolism. 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.
The center of the building is the rotunda, which is topped with a large dome. The dome is the largest in the world to be entirely clad in granite. The building underwent a major renovation in the 1970s, during which many original features were covered up, and modern features were added. Later renovations between 1988 and 2002 restored the building while updating its systems and functions for modern needs.
The Wisconsin State Capitol Building is an important symbol of the state’s government and history. It is a testament to the perseverance and determination of Wisconsinites in the face of adversity.