Wisconsin

Standing over the Madison Isthmus, the Wisconsin State Capitol is a bit plain on the outside, but absolutely beautiful and ornate on the inside. It has four equal-sized wings and a dome that is the largest by volume and the only granite dome in the United States.

The 100th Anniversary State Capitol Commemorative Commission has more information on Wisconsin State Capitol history, planning a visit, a virtual tour, and a photo tour.

I visited at the end of April 2023 on a cold, rainy day that felt more like winter in Texas than spring in Wisconsin. I plan on returning to Madison sometime in the summer, when I think it will be an amazing visit.

Capitol Square would have been even better a few weeks later, when the 13.5-acre grounds are in full summer bloom with over 25,000 annual plants and 154 trees from 30 species.

At the center of the building, the jewel-colored rotunda is an artful treat that features the Liberty Bell replica, the Liberty Mosaics representing the three branches of government and Liberty, and the dome mural, Resources of Wisconsin.

The capitol houses all three branches of government. The Wisconsin Governor is on the ground floor. The Wisconsin Supreme Court, located on the first floor, was blocked off so I couldn’t get a close-up of the amazing murals there.

The Wisconsin State Legislature also meets here. Both the Senate and Assembly Chambers are must-sees. The Senate Chamber is a circular room with the mural Marriage of the Atlantic and Pacific depicting the 1914 opening of the Panama Canal. In the Assembly, the mural Wisconsin features prominently over the speaker’s chair.

The Wisconsin State Capitol is a few blocks away from Lake Mendota to the north and Lake Monona to the south. The Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center on the banks of Lake Monona is three blocks from the capitol.

State Street is at the western tip of Capitol Square and is a great place for local coffee, shopping, and dining. You can also walk to the University of Wisconsin along State Street.

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