Pew House by Wright © 2009 Bo Macksion
The Pew House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1938-40, is seldom available for public tours, so it was with great enthusiasm that I explored this home, inside and outside, during the Wright and Like Tour held in June, 2009. For those of you Wright fans who are in the Midwest, the next Wright and Like tour will be held in Racine/Kenosha, Wisconsin on June 4-6, 2010. There are great homes on the tour and an opportunity to see the Johnson Wax Company’s campus, one of Wright’s more iconic projects. For more information, contact the Wright and Like Tours.
Hidden from View © 2009 Bo Mackison
Not much of a view of the Pew House from the dock or from Lake Mendota. The view from a boat on the lake would give no clue that a Wright home was tucked into this hillside.
The home is a two-story Usonian design, unusual but delightfully compact and full of Wright’s built-ins. In one of the small bedrooms, tiny in size, the room worked well because everything was built into the room – bed, desk, storage.
I read a delightful story about an interview with Ruth Pew who voiced unhappiness with the home for the first two years she lived there. It seems she felt that Mr. Wright did not take her wants and needs into consideration when he designed the home, and she was nearly ready to put the home on the market. Instead, she decided she would “give the house a year without struggling with it.” And in that year, she discovered that the home had been built not for the woman she was, but for “the woman I could become.” Talk about self-discovery!
Camp Randall @ 2010 Bo Mackison
If you are familiar with Madison and the name Camp Randall comes up in conversation, You can be nearly sure this is NOT the Camp Randall being discussed. That Camp Randall, the home of the University of Wisconsin football team, the Badgers, is across the street. But this is the originail Camp Randall, and the namesake of the stadium.
Camp Randall served as a training grounds for 70,000 men who fought for the North in the Civil War. Later, the camp was utilized as a prison and hospital for Confederate soldiers.
Old Abe, the Eagle, on Watch © 2010 Bo Mackison
This arch was built and dedicated in 1912 to the soldiers who fought in the Civil War. The land was deeded to the University of Wisconsin in 1893 and part of the land is used for athletic facilities. Camp Randall, the football stadium, was built in 1917.
The memorial area was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
American Exchange Bank © 2010 Bo Mackison
Built in 1871, the old American Exchange Bank is one of the last remnants of the three or more story sandstone block buildings that surrounded the Capitol Square from the 1850s to the 1950s. It was in this building that the first session of the Wisconsin Legislature was held.
The architect was Stephen V. Shipman; the architectural style of the building is Italian Renaissance Revival. The building originally extended over five store fronts along the Square (along Pinckney Street), but much of the structure was damaged by fire in the 1940s.
Founded 1871 © 2010 Bo Mackison
The pioneer bank opened its doors for business in 1871 and contributed greatly to the inital financial growth of the city. Throughout the years, the building has seen many tenants. It was home to Park Savings Bank, insurance agencies and other businesses over the course of nearly 140 years.
The building is a Madison Landmark, and is on the National and Wisconsin Registers of Historic Places.
Lathrop Hall © 2010 Bo Mackison
This week Lathrop Hall celebrates its 100th birthday. Lathrop Hall, one of the oldest buildings on the University of Wisconsin – Madison campus, was built in 1910 to serve as a physical training facility for the women attending the university. It first housed the Women’s Department which later became the Department of Physical Education and Dance. Currently Lathrop Hall is home to UW’s Dance Program.
The building originally had a three story gymnasium with a running track, a bowling alley, swimming pool in addition to a theater, cafeteria, and facilities for university business and teaching.
Happy Centennial, Lathrop Hall © 2010 Bo Mackison
The history of the building, citing its major effect on women’s education at UW in the early 20th Century, is documented in an article written by the University about Lathrop Hall.
The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
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Bo Mackison is a Madison based photographer who enjoys shooting historic places. She has a series of photographs of the University of Wisconsin’s historic buildings available for licensing and publication. Prints are also available. For more information, contact Bo at bo@historicplacesphotography.com.
Capitol Silhouette © 2010 Bo Mackison
The State Capitol building in Madison, Wisconsin was designed by George B. Post & Sons and built between the years of 1906 and 1917 at a cost of 7.25 million dollars. The Wisconsin State Capitol is 284.4 feet high from the ground floor to the top of the statue on the dome–37 inches shorter than United States Capitol in Washington. The dome is topped by a gilded bronze statue called “Wisconsin” created by Daniel Chester French. This statue was placed atop the dome in 1914, stands over 15 feet tall, and weigh more than 3 tons. “Wisconsin” holds a globe in her left hand with an eagle perched atop the sphere. Atop her helmet is a badger, Wisconsin’s state animal.
Wisconsin has the only granite dome in the United States; it is constructed of White Bethel Vermont granite, one of the whitest and hardest marbles found in the world. It is also the only state capitol built on an isthmus.
The building is open to the public on weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm and on weekends from 8 am to 4 pm. There are frequent tours throughout the day, excluding some holidays.
The State Capitol building is a National Historic Landmark and on the National and Wisconsin Registers of Historic Places.
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Bo Mackison is a Madison based photographer who enjoys shooting historic places. She has a large series of photographs of the Wisconsin Capitol Building, including interior photographs, detailed shots, exterior elevations, and the surrounding grounds. All are available for licensing and publication. Some prints are also available. For more information, contact Bo at bo@historicplacesphotography.com.
Jackman Building Curves © 2010 Bo Mackison
The Jackman Building, located just off the Capitol Square in Madison, was built in 1913-14 and is a prime example of early 20th Century commercial architecture because it has been preserved intact both inside and out. It was originally built for the law firm of Richmond, Jackman, and Swanson, and they and their successors occupied the building until 1976. The building is a simplified version of the Classical Revival style.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a Madison Landmark.
It is one of many buildings in downtown Madison that have a triangular shape. The city had a planned downtown and the Wisconsin State Capitol was centrally placed on a narrow isthmus. The streets come out from the Capitol like the spokes of a wheel and result in rather sharp angled corners. The building accommodated the narrow corners with rounded features at the angles.
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Bo Mackison is a Madison based photographer who loves to take photographs of historic buildings, especially now that spring is in the air. The photo series of the Jackman Building, including photographs of the exterior details and elevations are available for licensing and publication. For more information, contact Bo at bo@historicplacesphotography.com.