Wisconsin State Capitol facts for kids
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Wisconsin State Capitol
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2 East Main Street, Madison, WI 53703 |
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| Built | 1906–1917 |
| Architect | George B. Post |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000031 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | January 3, 2001 |
The Wisconsin State Capitol is a very important building in Madison, Wisconsin. It is where the laws for Wisconsin are made. Inside, you will find the Wisconsin Legislature, which is like the state's parliament. The Wisconsin Supreme Court also meets here. This court helps decide what the laws mean. The Governor of Wisconsin also has an office in this building.
The Capitol building was finished in 1917. It is the fifth building to be the state's capitol. Wisconsin became a state in 1848. This building is the tallest in Madison. A special law keeps other buildings from being taller than its dome. The Capitol is at the end of the Madison Isthmus. The streets around it form Capitol Square. This area has many restaurants and shops.
Contents
- History of Wisconsin's Capitol Buildings
- Capitol Sculpture Program
- Fossils in the Capitol
- Images for kids
- See also
History of Wisconsin's Capitol Buildings
First Capitol: A Temporary Home
The very first capitol was a simple wooden building. It was put together quickly in Belmont. This building did not have heat or running water. Lawmakers met there for only 42 days. They chose Madison to be the permanent capital. The old council house and a nearby lodging house are still standing. You can visit them at the First Capitol Historic Site.
Second Capitol: Building in Madison
The second capitol was built in Madison in 1837. It was made from stone and oak wood. This building was on the same spot where the current Capitol stands. It was a small building, typical for a new frontier state. It cost about $60,000 to build.
Third Capitol: Growing Bigger
As Wisconsin grew, the government needed more space. So, a new capitol was built on the same site. This third building had a dome, like the U.S. Capitol. It was built between 1857 and 1869. Later, in 1882, two new wings were added. But by 1903, people were already thinking about building a new, even bigger capitol.
1904 Fire: A Fiery Disaster
On February 26, 1904, a gas light started a fire in the third capitol building. The building had a good fire system. But the water supply from the University of Wisconsin–Madison was empty. This allowed the fire to spread quickly. Firefighters from Madison could not stop it alone. More help came from Milwaukee. Their equipment froze because it was so cold.
Most of the building burned down. Many important records and historical items were lost. This included the stuffed mount of Old Abe, a famous eagle from the American Civil War. Luckily, university students saved many law books. This fire happened right after the state stopped paying for fire insurance on the building.
Current Building: A Grand New Start
Construction on the current Capitol began in 1906. It was finished in 1917. The building cost about $7.25 million. George B. Post & Sons from New York designed it. Because of money limits, the building was built one wing at a time. This allowed state workers to use parts of it sooner.
The Capitol is very tall. It stands 284 feet and 5 inches from the ground to the top of the statue on the dome.
The Wisconsin Statue: The Golden Lady
The statue on top of the dome is called Wisconsin. It was made in 1920 by Daniel Chester French. She holds a globe with an eagle on it. Her other arm is stretched out, showing the state motto, "Forward." She wears a helmet with a badger on top. The badger is Wisconsin's state animal.
The statue is made of hollow bronze. It is covered with gold leaf. Wisconsin is 15 feet, 5 inches tall. She weighs three tons. Many people call her the "Golden Lady." Sometimes, she is mistakenly called Lady Forward. That is the name of another statue on the Capitol grounds.
The Dome's Mural: Resources of Wisconsin
Inside the dome, you can see a large painting. It is called Resources of Wisconsin. Edwin Howland Blashfield painted this mural. Because the ceiling is curved, the mural was painted in pieces. It was put together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. The painting shows a woman on a throne of clouds. She represents Wisconsin. Other women around her are reaching for things like tobacco and fruits. They are wrapped in a large American Flag.
Stones from Around the World
The Capitol building is made from 43 different kinds of stone. These stones came from six countries and eight states. The outside of the building is made of Bethel white granite from Vermont. This makes the dome the largest granite dome in the world.
The floors, walls, and columns inside are made of marble. This marble came from states like Tennessee, Missouri, and Georgia. Granite from Wisconsin and Minnesota was also used. Limestone from Minnesota and Illinois is also found inside. Marble from France, Italy, Greece, and Germany is there too. Even stone from Norway was used.
In 2001, the building was named a National Historic Landmark. A state law from 1990 helps protect its height. No building within one mile of the Capitol can be taller than the base of its dome.
Restoration: Making it New Again
From 1988 to 2002, the Capitol was repaired and updated. This project cost about $158.8 million. It was done wing by wing, just like when the building was first made. The goal was to make the Capitol a modern workplace. But they also wanted to bring back its original look from 1917.
In the 1960s and 70s, some changes were made. These changes did not fit the building's style. For example, false ceilings were added. Many original designs on the walls were painted over. The restoration project brought back the original look of public areas. Old designs were fixed. Stairs that had been covered up were opened again. Workers even cleaned the outside granite by climbing down from the dome.
The project also added modern technology. Electrical, heating, and communication systems were updated. Air conditioning was added. The basement floor was lowered to create more office space. Lawmakers' offices were rebuilt. New office furniture was designed to look like the old oak furniture.
Capitol Sculpture Program
The architect, George B. Post, planned many sculptures for the building. The Wisconsin statue on the dome was made by Daniel Chester French. This statue is often called the "Golden Lady." She looks like Athena, a Greek goddess. She wears a helmet with a badger on top. She holds a globe with an eagle.
At the base of the large dome, there are four groups of sculptures. These were made by Karl Bitter. They show Faith, Strength, Prosperity and Abundance, and Knowledge.
Each of the four wings has a special sculpture above its entrance. These sculptures show what happens inside that wing. For example, the east wing has a sculpture called Law. This is because the Supreme Court is in that wing. The south wing has Virtues and Traits of Character. The west wing shows Agriculture. The north wing has Wisdom and Learning of the World. The Piccirilli Brothers carved all these sculptures.
Fossils in the Capitol
You can find natural fossils hidden in the stones of the Capitol! Here are some places to look:
- Starfish: North wing, on the left grand stairs, from the 1st to 2nd floor, on the fourth step from the bottom.
- Coral: West wing, second floor, on the railing overlooking the central hallway, outside the Assembly chamber.
- Nautiloid: North wing, second floor, to the left of the north hearing room entrance.
- Gastropod: West wing, on the left grand stairs; from the 1st to 2nd floor railing, above the 9th step from the top.
- Ammonoid: North wing, second floor, in the north hearing room.
- Bryozoan: South wing, second floor, on the left grand stairs, on the top step.
- Burrows: Northwest, second floor, on the wall to the right of room 225 NW.
- Brachiopods: East wing, ground floor, on the pillars near the entrance.
Images for kids
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Wisconsin statue by Daniel Chester French
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East pediment by Karl Bitter
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South pediment, Virtues and Traits of Character by Adolph Weinman
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West pediment by Bitter
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North pediment by Attilio Piccirilli
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Under the dome
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Rotunda floor
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Dome interior
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View of Madison from the rotunda.jpg
A view of Madison from the rotunda balcony
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Wisconsin State Capitol Building
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View from south
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See also
In Spanish: Capitolio del Estado de Wisconsin para niños
- List of state and territorial capitols in the United States
- 2011 Wisconsin protests
