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The Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin, was built between 1906 and 1917 and is constructed in the Beaux Arts style. The building replaced a much smaller Greek Revival-style building that was constructed in 1837, which was the first state capitol building in Wisconsin. The previous, larger building was built in the Classical Revival style with Romanesque Revival elements between 1857 and 1869, and was later modified and extended in 1882. It was destroyed by a fire in 1904, which led to the construction of the current Capitol Building. The current building houses the Wisconsin State Assembly, the Wisconsin State Senate, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the Office of the Governor of Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Territorial Legislature initially met in a hastily constructed wood-frame building in the village of Belmont, Wisconsin. After designating Madison as the state capital, they moved to Burlington, Iowa, where they held sessions until a state capitol building was completed in Madison. The first capitol of Wisconsin, a Greek Revival-style building constructed in 1837, was replaced by the larger Classical Revival-style structure that burned down in 1904.

The present Capitol Building stands 284 feet (86 meters) tall to the top of the statue on the dome, which was sculpted in 1920 by Daniel Chester French, and is a personification of the state of Wisconsin, with the outstretched arm of the statue representing the state motto, “Forward”. The dome is the largest in the world to be entirely clad in granite, and is the tallest building in Madison. The building has a greek cross footprint with four five-story wings that are aligned with the compass directions and radial streets following the compass directions that slice through the surrounding street grid.

The exterior of the building’s wings feature porticoes on the ends with corinthian columns, arched windows on the third floor, rusticated bases with entrance doors and decorative keystones, decorative reliefs featuring festoons over the windows on the porticoes, cornices with modillions and dentils, and pediments with sculptural reliefs, which were created by several sculptors and have different symbolism embodied by their design. 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, with the roof being almost entirely enclosed by a parapet.

At the center of the building are semi-circular portions of the facade with two-story ionic porticos with large terraces and grand staircases featuring decorative copper lampposts, decorative stone balustrades, concealed entrances to the ground floor underneath the terraces, and three doorways on the upper level. In 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, with later projects between 1988 and 2002 restoring the building while updating the building’s systems and functions for the modern needs of the state government.

Posted by w_lemay on 2023-03-08 12:50:41

The Wisconsin State Capitol Building is a Beaux Arts-style building designed by George B. Post and completed between 1906 and 1917. It is the fourth state capitol to house the state government since its establishment in 1848, with the previous building burning down in 1904. The building houses both 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 building is 284 feet tall to the top of the statue on the dome, which was sculpted in 1920 by Daniel Chester French, representing the state of Wisconsin. The exterior of the building is clad in Bethel white granite, and the dome is the largest in the world to be entirely clad in granite.

The building has a greek cross footprint with four wings that are aligned with the compass directions and radial streets following the compass directions that slice through the surrounding street grid. The building is at a 45-degree angle to compass directions, roughly paralleling the shorelines of nearby Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. The building underwent a major renovation in the 1970s and later projects between 1988 and 2002 that restored the building while updating the building’s systems and functions for the modern needs of the state government.

The exterior of the building’s wings feature porticoes on the ends with corinthian columns, arched windows on the third floor, rusticated bases with entrance doors and decorative keystones, decorative reliefs featuring festoons over the windows on the porticoes, cornices with modillions and dentils, and pediments with sculptural reliefs. On the east wing, the sculpture known as Law, created by Karl Bitter, is located on the portico pediment. On the west wing, which houses the chamber of the Wisconsin Assembly, is a sculpture known as Agriculture, also created by Karl Bitter. On the north wing, which is home to a hearing chamber, is the sculpture known as Virtues and Traits of Character, created by Adolph Alexander Weinman. On the south wing, which houses the chamber of the Wisconsin Senate, is a sculpture known as Wisdom and Learning of the World, created by Attilio Piccirilli.

In the center of the building is the rotunda, which is topped with a large dome that rises from a tall base. The dome is the tallest building in Madison, and a state law passed in 1990 stipulates that any building within a one-mile radius of the capitol is limited in height to the base of the columns of the dome, which stands at 187 feet. The rotunda features a mural by Edwin H. Blashfield depicting the healing springs of Wisconsin and the state’s agricultural enterprises. The interior of the building features a grand marble staircase leading up to the second floor, which is home to the Assembly and Senate chambers.

In conclusion, the Wisconsin State Capitol Building is an iconic building in Madison, Wisconsin, and is a symbol of the state’s history and government. With its Beaux Arts-style and Greek cross footprint, the building is a unique and beautiful structure that is visited by thousands of people every year. The building underwent a major renovation in the 1970s and later projects between 1988 and 2002 that restored the building while updating the building’s systems and functions for the modern needs of the state government. The building is a must-see for anyone visiting Madison or interested in the history and architecture of Wisconsin.

Posted by w_lemay on 2023-03-08 12:50:34

The Beaux Arts-style Capitol Building in Madison, Wisconsin was built between 1906 and 1917 and designed by architect George B. Post. The state capitol building replaced the previous structure, which burned down in 1904. The current building is the fourth capitol to house the state government and the third building to stand at the present site. The building houses the Wisconsin State Assembly, the Wisconsin State Senate, 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. The legislature met in a wooden building until the future site of Madison was designated as the state capitol. The first capitol building on the present site was constructed in 1837 and was a Greek Revival-style building with doric columns and a rusticated fieldstone exterior. In 1857, the building was replaced by a larger Classical Revival-style structure with Romanesque Revival elements. The building was modified and extended in 1882 with new wings that increased its Classical Revival aspects.

By the turn of the 20th century, the old capitol had become inadequate for the growing needs of Wisconsin, which had become wealthy, industrialized, and heavily populated. The construction process of the current building was focused on completing each wing one at a time to provide space to the state government with as much fiscal efficiency as possible due to financial limitations. 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 being built after the other three wings had been completed.

The building stands 284 feet tall, including the statue on the dome. The exterior is clad in Bethel white granite, sourced from Vermont, and an additional 42 types of stone from a total of eight states and six countries were utilized on the interior of the building. The dome is the largest in the world to be entirely clad in granite and is the tallest building in Madison. The building has a Greek cross footprint with four five-story wings that are aligned with the compass directions and radial streets. This places 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 on the ends with corinthian columns, arched windows on the third floor, rusticated bases with entrance doors and decorative keystones, decorative reliefs featuring festoons over the windows on the porticoes, cornices with modillions and dentils, and pediments with sculptural reliefs. The sides of the wings feature simpler cornices with dentils, pilasters, and recessed window openings.

Inside the building, each wing houses different functions of government. The east wing is home to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, with the sculpture known as Law located on the portico pediment. The west wing houses the chamber of the Wisconsin Assembly, with Karl Bitter’s sculpture Agriculture on the portico pediment. Adolph Alexander Weinman’s sculpture Virtues and Traits of Character is located on the north wing, which is home to a hearing chamber. Attilio Piccirilli’s sculpture Wisdom and Learning of the World is located on the south wing, which houses the chamber of the Wisconsin Senate.

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 that added modern features to the interior and covered up many original features. Later renovations between 1988 and 2002 restored the building while updating the building’s systems and functions for the modern needs of the state government.

In conclusion, the Beaux Arts-style Capitol Building in Madison, Wisconsin is the fourth capitol to house the state government and the third building to stand at the present site. Designed by architect George B. Post, the building replaced the previous structure, which burned down in 1904. With a unique 45-degree orientation, the building’s exterior is clad in Bethel white granite and an additional 42 types of stone were utilized on the interior of the building. The building underwent a major renovation in the 1970s and later renovations between 1988 and 2002 to restore the building while updating its systems and functions for the modern needs of the state government.

Posted by w_lemay on 2023-03-08 12:50:55

The Wisconsin State Capitol Building was built in the Beaux Arts style by George B. Post between 1906 and 1917. It replaced an earlier structure that was destroyed by fire in 1904. With a height of 284 feet and a greek cross footprint, the building houses the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. The dome is the largest in the world to be entirely clad in granite, and the building’s exterior features Corinthian columns, arched windows, and decorative reliefs. The Wisconsin State Capitol underwent a major renovation in the 1970s, which covered up many of the original features, and later projects between 1988 and 2002 restored the building while updating its systems and functions for the modern needs of the state government. The building’s wings feature different sculptures, and the rotunda is topped with a large dome that rises from a tall base. The Wisconsin State Capitol Building is significant as a symbol of the state’s government, and its architecture exemplifies the grandeur of Beaux Arts style public buildings.

Posted by w_lemay on 2023-03-08 12:51:03

The Wisconsin Capitol Building, built in the Beaux Arts style, was designed by architect George B. Post and constructed between 1906 and 1917. It stands on the site of the former state capitol, which was destroyed in a fire in 1904. The building houses the state assembly and senate, governor’s office, and supreme court. Its design includes a Greek cross-shaped floor plan with four wings oriented to the compass points. The building’s exterior is clad in white granite from Vermont and includes pediments with sculptural reliefs, cornices with dentils, and rusticated bases with decorative keystones. The building underwent a major renovation in the 1970s, followed by restoration projects between 1988 and 2002. Today, it remains a symbol of Wisconsin’s government and history.

Posted by w_lemay on 2023-03-08 12:50:42