Tag: danecounty

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.

Posted by w_lemay on 2023-03-08 12:52:15

The Beaux Arts-style Capitol Building in Madison, Wisconsin, was built between 1906-1917 by architect George B. Post to house the state house of representatives, the state senate, and the offices of the Wisconsin State Government. It was the fourth state capitol to house the state government since Wisconsin’s establishment in 1848, and it replaced the previous state capitol which had burned down in February of 1904. The building stands 284 feet tall and has a Greek cross footprint with four, five-story wings aligned with the compass directions.

The exterior of the building, made up of Bethel white granite, features porticos with Corinthian columns, arched windows, and rusticated bases with entrance doors and decorative keystones. Various sculptures were used to decorate the exterior of the state capitol, including Law, Agriculture, Virtues and Traits of Character, and Wisdom and Learning of the World. The dome on the top of the building is the largest in the world to be entirely clad in granite, and is the tallest building in Madison. The building was one of the last works of the prolific architect George B. Post, who died before it was completed.

The capitol building underwent a major renovation in the 1970s that added modern features to the interior and covered up many original features. Further projects between 1988 and 2002 worked to restore the building while updating its systems and functions for the modern needs of the state government.

The first capitol of Wisconsin was established in the village of Belmont, and the legislature met in a hastily constructed wood-frame building. Later, the site of Madison was designated as the state capitol, and the legislature held sessions in the Mississippi River port town of Burlington (now in Iowa) until a capitol building could be completed in Madison. The present capitol building sits on the site of the previous state capitol, which had become inadequate for the growing needs of Wisconsin, and had burned down in 1904.

Posted by w_lemay on 2023-03-08 12:50:38

The Wisconsin State Capitol Building was designed by architect George B. Post in the Beaux Arts-style and constructed between 1906-1917. It replaced the previous state capitol building which burned down in February of 1904. The building houses the Wisconsin State Assembly, Wisconsin State Senate, Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. The previous state capitol was a Greek Revival-style building constructed in 1837 which contained doric columns and a rusticated fieldstone exterior. Next, a new state capitol was constructed in stages between 1857-1869 to accommodate Wisconsin’s growing population and government. The new building had a Classical Revival-style with Romanesque Revival elements, and had features such as a dome and two short side wings with octagonal towers. An additional two wings with a focus on Classical Revival were added in 1882.

The current Wisconsin State Capitol building was built on the site of the previous building, with construction staged to maximize fiscal efficiency, with the north wing built last. The current building is 284 feet tall to the top of the statue on the dome, which is a personification of the state of Wisconsin, and the exterior is clad in Bethel white granite with an additional 42 types of stone from eight states and six countries being utilized in the interior. The greek cross-shaped building has four five-story wings that are aligned with the compass directions and radial streets following compass directions that slice through the surrounding street grid, instead paralleling the shorelines of nearby Lake Mendota and Lake Monona.

The exterior of the wings features porticoes with Corinthian columns, arched windows on the third floor, rusticated bases with entrance doors, and cornices with modillions and dentils, as well as pediments with sculptural reliefs created by several sculptors with different symbolic meaning. In the center of the building is the rotunda, which is topped with a large dome. The wings sit at 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 and updating it for the modern needs of the state government.

Overall, the Wisconsin State Capitol building is an important part of Wisconsin’s history and government, serving as a symbol and functional workspace for the state’s elected officials and public servants.

Posted by w_lemay on 2023-03-08 12:50:32

The Wisconsin State Capitol Building is a historic government building located in Madison, Wisconsin. The Beaux Arts-style building was designed by George B. Post and constructed between 1906 and 1917 to replace the previous state capitol, which burned down in 1904. The present building serves as the home of the Wisconsin State Assembly, the Wisconsin State Senate, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the Office of the Governor of Wisconsin.

The building is the fourth state capitol to house the state government since Wisconsin’s establishment in 1848. The first capitol building was located in the village of Belmont, Wisconsin, before moving to Burlington, Iowa, until a capitol building could be completed in Madison. The second and third capitol buildings were eventually replaced due to growth in population and government needs.

The present building stands 284 feet (86 meters) tall to the top of the statue on the dome, which features a personification of the state of Wisconsin with the outstretched arm representing the state motto, “Forward”. The exterior is clad in Bethel white granite with an additional 42 types of stone from eight states and six countries utilized on the interior. The building has a Greek cross footprint with wings aligned with compass directions and radial streets that slice through the surrounding street grid.

The building underwent a major renovation in the 1970s and underwent further projects between 1988 and 2002 to restore the building while updating systems and functions for modern government needs. The exterior of the wings features porticoes with corinthian columns, arched windows, and pediments with sculptural reliefs created by various artists.

Overall, the Wisconsin State Capitol Building is an iconic part of Wisconsin’s history and serves as an important government building for the state.

Posted by w_lemay on 2023-03-08 12:50:21

The Wisconsin State Capitol Building is a Beaux Arts-style structure located in Madison, Wisconsin. Designed by George B. Post, it was built in 1906-1917 to house the state house of representatives, state senate, and offices for the Wisconsin State Government. It replaced the previous state capitol building that burned down in February 1904.

The building is the third structure to be built on the present site and the fourth state capitol to house the state government since Wisconsin’s establishment in 1848. The first state capitol of Wisconsin was in the village of Belmont, Wisconsin, while the legislature met in a hastily constructed wood-frame building. Later the government moved to Burlington, which was a more developed Mississippi River port town, until the capitol building could be completed in Madison.

The second building constructed on the site was a relatively humble Greek Revival-style building which was replaced with a larger, Classical Revival-style structure with Romanesque Revival elements constructed in stages between 1857 and 1869, which featured a dome inspired by the United Capitol Building, semi-circular porticoes with corinthian columns, two short side wings with octagonal towers at the corners, which were modified and extended in 1882 with new wings that increased the building’s Classical Revival aspects, and downplayed the Romanesque Revival elements.

The building is clad in Bethel white granite, sourced from Vermont, with an additional 42 types of stone from a total of eight states and six countries being utilized on the interior of the building. The north wing was built last to allow the remaining portion of the previous capitol to serve as space for the state government during the construction period, with the central rotunda and dome also being built after the other three wings had been completed.

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 its systems and functions. The exterior of the building’s wings feature porticoes, rusticated bases with entrance doors and decorative keystones, cornices with modillions and dentils, and pediments with sculptural reliefs created by several sculptors. The wings also have different symbolism embodied by their design.

The building has a greek cross footprint with four five-story wings that are aligned with the compass directions and radial streets. The exterior of the building is characterized by semi-circular portions of the facade with semi-circular two-story ionic porticos featuring decorative copper lampposts, decorative stone balustrades, concealed entrances, and three doorways on the upper level.

In conclusion, the Wisconsin State Capitol Building is a significant structure with a rich history that has undergone several changes throughout its existence. It is an essential part of Wisconsin’s heritage that continues to serve as a hub for the state government and a symbol of Wisconsin’s history and traditions.

Posted by w_lemay on 2023-03-08 12:50:44