The Wisconsin State Capitol Building, designed in the Beaux Arts style by George B. Post, was built from 1906-1917 to replace the previous state capitol building that burned down in 1904. It is the fourth state capitol to house the state government since Wisconsin’s establishment in 1848 and is located in Madison. The building houses the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the Office of the Governor of Wisconsin.
Prior to the creation of the current capitol building, the first capitol of Wisconsin was established in the village of Belmont, Wisconsin, before being moved to the state’s future site of Madison. The original capitol building, a Greek Revival-style structure built in 1837, was replaced in stages between 1857 and 1869 with a larger Classical Revival-style structure that featured a dome, semi-circular porticoes, and octagonal towers. In 1882, new wings were added to the building, expanding the Classical Revival elements and downplaying the Romanesque Revival elements, which were originally more prominent.
The current capitol building, featuring a greek cross footprint with four five-story wings aligned with the compass directions and radial streets following the compass directions that slice through the surrounding street grid at a 45-degree angle, was designed with fiscal efficiency in mind. Due to a lack of funds, each wing was built separately with the north wing being built last to allow the remaining portion of the previous capitol to serve as space for the state government during the construction period. The building is clad in Bethel white granite, sourced from Vermont, and has a dome topped with a statue of “Forward,” a personification of the state of Wisconsin.
The exterior of the building’s wings features porticoes on the ends with Corinthian columns, arched windows on the third floor, rusticated bases with entrance doors and decorative keystones, decorative reliefs, cornices with modillions and dentils, and pediments with sculptural reliefs, created by several sculptors with different symbolism embodied by their design. 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.
The center of the building features a rotunda topped with a large dome that rises from a tall base. The dome, the largest in the world to be entirely clad in granite, is the tallest building in Madison, standing at 284 feet (86 meters) tall to the top of the statue on the dome. The building underwent a major renovation in the 1970s that covered up many original features, but later projects between 1988 and 2002 restored the building while updating it to meet the modern needs of the state government.
In conclusion, the Wisconsin State Capitol Building is an impressive and unique structure that has housed the state government for over a century. Its grand design and rich history make it an important landmark in the state and a must-see for visitors to Madison.