The Wisconsin State Capitol Building is a prominent government building located in Madison, Wisconsin. It was built in 1906-1917 as the state house of representatives, state senate, and offices for the Wisconsin State Government, replacing the previous state capitol building which burned down in 1904. It 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 moving to the present site of Madison. The previous state capitol building, built in 1857-1869 and expanded in 1882, was inadequate for the growing population and government, leading to the construction of the present building which was completed in stages due to financial limitations. The building stands 284 feet tall, with the statue on the dome representing the state of Wisconsin, and is the tallest building in Madison. It has a greek cross footprint with four five-story wings aligned with the compass directions and radial streets following the compass directions, placing the building at a unique 45-degree angle orientation relative to the edges of Capitol Square and most buildings on adjacent streets.
The exterior of the building’s wings feature porticoes with corinthian columns, arched windows, and decorative reliefs featuring different symbolism embodied by their design. The sides of the wings feature simpler cornices with dentils, pilasters and recessed window openings, with a recessed fifth floor featuring small paired windows, hidden behind a balustrade that runs around the entirety of the building minus the ends of the wings, concealing a low-slope roof at the setbacks on the sides of the wings and above the corner porticoes. The upper roofs of the wings are low-slope with front gabled portions in the middle punctured by skylights, with the roof being almost entirely enclosed by a parapet. At the center of the building is the rotunda, which is topped with a large dome that rises from a tall base.
The building underwent a major renovation in the 1970s and later restoration projects between 1988 and 2002, updating the building’s systems and functions for the modern needs of the state government. It is a significant landmark of the city of Madison and a symbol of Wisconsin state government.