Madison, WI’s Capitol Square and Wisconsin State Capitol

Wisconsin State Capitol, Capitol Square, Madison, WI

The Wisconsin State Capitol Building, which houses the Wisconsin State Assembly, Wisconsin State Senate, Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor, is located in Madison. Designed by George B. Post in Beaux Arts-style, it was built between 1906 and 1917 after the previous building burned down in February 1904. It replaced an earlier two-story Greek Revival-style building constructed in 1837, which was the first state capitol building of Wisconsin. The building has a height of 284 feet and features a personification of the state of Wisconsin on its dome, along with a greek cross footprint with four five-story wings aligned with the compass directions. The building underwent a major renovation in the 1970s, followed by restoration and modernization projects between 1988 and 2002. It is clad with Bethel white granite and has 42 types of interior stone from eight states and six countries. The exterior features porticoes, arched windows on the third floor, keystones, decorative reliefs, cornices with modillions and dentils, and pediments with sculptural reliefs. The building features different sculpture design on each wing, with the east wing sporting Law, the west wing Agriculture, the north wing Virtues and Traits of Character, and the south wing Wisdom and Learning of the World. The building has a unique 45-degree angle orientation relative to the edges of Capitol Square and most buildings on adjacent streets.

Posted by w_lemay on 2023-03-08 12:50:48