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.
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