The first floor rotunda is the site of four beautiful monuments located at the foot of the grand staircases to the second floor. A replica of Wisconsin's State Constitution is displayed in the north. A bust of Robert M. LaFollette, founder of the Progressive Movement and former Wisconsin Governor and United States Senator is located in the east. A replica of the Liberty Bell is displayed in the south and in 1933, a memorial to Wisconsin veterans was erected in the west.

Between the four arches in the rotunda are pendentives, which make the transition from the octagonal form of the rotunda to the circular form of the dome. The four pendentives of the rotunda are decorated with four panels of glass mosaic works designed by Kenyon Cox, for a total cost of $20,000. Kenyon Cox, born in Warren Ohio, (1856 - 1919) was an important American painter, draughtsman and art critic. He also painted murals for the Library of Congress and the Capitols of Iowa and Minnesota.

Cox's mosaic panels are twelve feet high and have an average length of twenty-four feet. Each mosaic consists of approximately 100,000 pieces of glass tile and represents Wisconsin's three branches of government (the legislative, the executive and the judicial) and liberty - the foundation of all power in a free country. "Legislation" is represented as a powerful older man with a long beard who holds a stylus in his right hand and is seated by a sphinx symbol of wisdom. A young man holding a leading staff in his right hand while his left hand rests upon a great sword represents "Government"- the executive power. "Justice" is represented by a young woman seated in a lion throne, who tests the scales in the balance to demonstrate the purely judicial function of weighing one cause against the other. "Liberty" is represented as a young woman wearing the traditional Phrygian cap of red, but is otherwise dressed in two shades of green, the color of youth and hope. Her right hand guards the ballot box while her left hand points upward.

Another major point of interest in the Capitol rotunda is a beautiful ceiling decoration done by the distinguished artist, Edwin Howland-Blashfield. This masterpiece entitled "Resources of Wisconsin" shows a female figure as "Wisconsin". She is located centrally in the painting, enthroned upon clouds and wrapped up in the American flag.

During the winter holiday season, the Wisconsin State Capitol Holiday Tree graces the rotunda during the month of December. Typically a forty-foot Wisconsin grown Balsam Fir is selected as the holiday tree. Each year, the Capitol Holiday Tree is decorated with approximately 700 feet of gold garland, 2,400 multicolored lights and 1,400 handmade ornaments donated by Wisconsin citizens.

Points of Interest

This is a spectacular view from the observation deck just below the lantern at 236' 9" from ground level. From this location, the entire Madison isthmus is easily seen. The Wisconsin State Capitol is located in the heart of downtown Madison on an isthmus formed by Lake Mendota to the north and Lake Monona to the south.

Tours of the State Capitol building were first offered to the public in 1915. From 1915 to 1931 the public was allowed access to this observation deck and the lantern above. To reach this level visitors took an elevator in any of the four wings to the fourth floor and ascended 23 marble stairs to the fifth floor landing. From there they climbed another 14 metal stairs to reach the sixth level where the museum is still located. This level also provides access to the rotunda trumpeter's ring at 83' 9". It is also the beginning of the metal spiral staircase. Eleven stairs up the staircase provides access to the first of three observation decks. The first observation deck remains open to this day and still thrills summer visitors with a view of Madison at 92'.

From this point, visitors could continue their journey and embark on their longest climb of 87 stairs on the spiral staircase to reach the second observation deck at 157' 3". The stairs at this point change back to an inclined staircase. After walking up 36 stairs, visitors reached the dome mural "Resources of Wisconsin", just an arms length away. Visitors could step up one more stair to look over the railing and see the decorative floor of the rotunda 184' 3" below.

After visitors reached the dome mural and they wanted to continue their journey, they encountered two stairways leading to the lantern. However, neither of the landings is very big, so only 25 visitors at a time were allowed to proceed higher. The next 25 stairs incline directly over the dome mural and are suspended in mid-air, so they swayed as visitors ascended them. Next is the final single spiral staircase that led visitors to the lantern. After climbing 45 stairs, visitors reached the lantern observation deck, which is the view you are seeing. The observation deck is not very wide, only about three feet and the flooring is metal which buckled under the weight of visitors. From this point there are just 11 more spiral stairs to reach the inside of the lantern. The interior of the Lantern gave visitors a view of the city at 244' 6".

After 1931, the public was no longer allowed to go to the lantern due to safety and liability concerns. Visitors were still allowed to go as far as the dome mural "Resources of Wisconsin" until sometime in the late 50's. Today the highest point the public is allowed to go is the first observation deck at 92'. This deck is open from Memorial Day through the first week of November.

The Wisconsin State Capitol is located in the heart of downtown Madison on an isthmus formed by Lake Mendota to the north and Lake Monona to the south. Accenting the beauty of the Capitol building is the 13.5 acres of Capitol grounds on which it sits. During the summer, there are 15 flowerbeds on the grounds, containing over 25,000 annual plants. The grounds are also home to 154 trees, of which there are 30 different varieties.

Construction of our current Wisconsin Capitol began late in 1906 and was completed in 1917. George B. Post & Sons were the architects for the project. Originally, the Capitol and its power plant cost 7.25 million to build. Today the building is insured for $200 million, not including the artwork and furnishings. The Wisconsin State Capitol is 284.4 feet high from the ground floor to the top of the statue on the dome - just three feet and one-half inch shorter than our Nation's Capitol in Washington D.C.

The exterior of the Capitol is constructed entirely of White Bethel Vermont granite. This material compares to marble in whiteness and general appearance. It is the hardest and most durable stone used in the construction of the Capitol building.

The four wings of the Capitol face the four diagonal streets of the City of Madison. Each wing is one hundred and twenty-five feet wide, eighty-four feet high and one hundred and eighty-seven feet long. The west wing houses the State Assembly. The east wing contains the Governor's Conference Room and the Supreme Court. The State Senate is in the south wing. The North Hearing Room and the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Memorial Hearing Room are found in the north wing of the Capitol.

The dome, completed in 1915, is the focal point of the Capitol building. It dominates the four wings and rises 162 feet above them. The Capitol dome is the largest dome by volume in the United States and one of the largest in the world. It is also the only granite dome in the United States. The dome consists of inner and outer structures. The inner dome (coffer dome) is visible from the Capitol rotunda. Three observation decks encircle the outer dome. The lowest observation deck is open for public viewing during the summer months.

On top of the great granite dome stands the gilded bronze statue "Wisconsin" which symbolizes our state motto "Forward". "Wisconsin" has graced the top of the Capitol since 1914 and is 15 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs over 3 tons. In her left hand, "Wisconsin" holds a globe with an eagle perched on it and on top of her helmet is our state animal - the badger. Daniel Chester French of New York sculpted the statue for a cost of $20,325.

The Supreme Court Room is located on the second floor of the east wing of the State Capitol. Upon entering, visitors will be impressed by its dignified beauty. Such a room is befitting for the Supreme Court for it is here, where the final interpretation of State law is made.

Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justices and the Fourth District Court of Appeals use the Supreme Court Room for oral arguments. The Supreme Court meets in this room two to three times per month, from September through June. The remainder of the year, the justices work on written cases in their chambers, which are located behind the doors at the front of the room.

In the Supreme Court, no jury or witnesses are present because it is an appeals court. Supreme Court cases consist of two attorneys who argue their client's positions to the justices. Each lawyer has only 30 minutes to explain his/her argument to the justices and answer any questions they might have. After the justices have heard the day's arguments, they discuss each case and then vote on it. Supreme Court Justices do not hear all cases that are appealed to them. Instead, they choose cases that will have the greatest legal impact on the State of Wisconsin. When the Court is in session, the public is welcome to attend. Chairs for spectators are provided in the back of the room.

There are seven justices who sit on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. They are elected to a ten-year term in a non-partisan statewide election. This is the longest term of any elected office in the State. In the event a justice is unable to complete his/her term for any reason, such as death or retirement, the Governor appoints someone to fill that position. Only one justice can be up for election per year.

The Supreme Court Room is essentially a square room with dimensions of forty-two feet by forty-three feet by thirty feet high. It is lighted by a 20' 7" x 20' 7" central skylight of low-toned leaded glasswork set in a flat ceiling and is coffered to prevent reverberation. This room has more marble than any other room in the Capitol building. It contains marble from all over the world - France, Germany, Italy, Maryland and Tennessee. The solid mahogany furniture and woodwork are original to the room.

Albert Herter of New York painted the four murals in the Supreme Court Room at a cost of $28,000. These murals illustrate historical events that influenced Wisconsin law. The mural above the door shows Caesar Augustus presiding over the trial of a soldier. The north wall painting shows the protested signing of the Magna Carta by England's King John in 1215. At that time, soldiers forced King John to sign the document. The mural in front of the room illustrates the 1787 signing of the United States Constitution in Philadelphia - an extremely important event of our nation's history. The fourth painting exemplifies Wisconsin Territorial Law by showing the trial of Chief Oshkosh of the Menominee tribe in 1830. Chief Oshkosh was accused of killing a Pawnee Indian and was brought to trial before federal judge James Duane Doty. It was the first time a jury was used in Wisconsin history. Although the jury found Chief Oshkosh guilty, Judge Doty ruled that the territorial law couldn't be applied because Chief Oshkosh had followed his people's legal system.

Points of Interest

This is the Governor's Conference Room and is located on the first floor of the east wing. The Governor uses this room for press conferences, bill signings, cabinet meetings and receptions.

The Governor's Conference Room is designed in the Venetian Renaissance style and was inspired by the beautiful small council chambers in the Doge's Palace in Venice. Of all the rooms in the State Capitol, the Governor's Conference Room is decorated with the most 22-karet gold leaf. The walls are cherry wood paneling. The floor is parquet of four woods teak, mahogany, quartersawn oak and primavera. The floor to ceiling fireplace is hand carved out of Italian marble. It is one of five fireplaces in the State Capitol and was last used in the 1930s.

The ceiling and mural paintings were done by an American artist from New York named Hugo Ballin for a cost of $25,000. The ceiling paintings are symbolic and represent ideas such as Wisconsin's beauty, strength, patriotism, labor commerce, agriculture and horticulture. The wall murals are decorative paintings illustrating important people, places and events in Wisconsin's history. All the paintings in the Governor's Conference Room were done by Hugo Ballin of New York.

A specific point of interest on the ceiling is the circular mural in the center of the ceiling, which represents "Wisconsin surrounded by her Attributes, Beauty, Strength, Patriotism, Labor, Commerce, Agriculture and Horticulture". The young woman in the center of the painting symbolizes the beauty of the State. Subjects of other ceiling panels include "Pioneering", "Charity", Invention", "Justice", "Religious Tolerance", and "Art" and two semi-lunettes above the clock symbolize "War" and "Peace".

There are many beautiful and interesting wall paintings in the Governor's Conference Room. All of these wall murals depict important events in Wisconsin history, such as "The Landing of the First White Man, Jean Nicolet, in the State, then a French Territory, in 1634" (located on the left as you enter into the room) and "The Closing Scene of the Winnebago War in 1827" (located on the right as you enter into the room). The Winnebago War painting illustrates Red Bird, Chief of the tribe, surrendering to Major Whisler near what is now Portage. In the left corner of the east wall is "Wisconsin's First Capitol at Belmont" as it appeared in 1836. In the right corner of the east wall is "Wisconsin's Capitol" which occupied the site of the present Capitol prior to the 1904 fire. It is also interesting to note that signs of the Zodiac can be found in the Governor's Conference Room, in the narrow spaces at the entrance, under the clock.

Elmer Garnsey, who also designed the Assembly Chambers decorations, designed the interior decorations in the Governor's Conference Room. The original French walnut furniture in the Governor's Conference Room include the "Great Wisconsin" table, eight high-back chairs, sofas and benches are also original to the room and were purchased in 1910 for $4,081.

Points of Interest

This is the Senate Chambers. It is located on the second floor of the south wing of the State Capitol.

Like the United States Congress, Wisconsin's Legislature has two houses - the Senate and the Assembly. There are thirty-three members of the Senate, who are elected to a four-year term. Sixteen members are elected in the presidential election year while the other seventeen are elected during the gubernatorial election year. The leader of the Senate is called the President and he presides over Senate sessions at the large desk in the front of the Chambers. Fellow senators elect the Senate President. The majority party sits in the outer circle of desks while the minority party sits in the inner circle. The Chief Clerk sits in the front of the room with the Senate President.

The Senate meets in this room to discuss and vote on bills that may be passed into laws. In order for a bill to become a law in Wisconsin, it must be passed by both the Senate and the Assembly and then signed by the Governor. The bill can be introduced in either house, and then it is referred to a legislative committee for study. The committee may hold public hearings on the bill. After detailed investigation, the committee recommends passage or rejection of the bill. Most bills that do not pass die in committee. Bills that make it out of the legislative committee are then scheduled for floor debate, and if passed it goes to the other house for consideration. Any changes in a bill or "amendments" must be approved by both houses. When both houses have passed the same version of a bill, it goes to the Governor for signature. Approximately 2,000 bills are introduced during the two-year session of the Legislature, however only about 500 are passed into law.

The Senate uses a roll-call voting system to vote on bills. The Chief Clerk calls on each Senator and they respond with either a "aye" or "nay" and the Chief Clerk records their vote. Legislative sessions are open to the public. There is a gallery in both the Senate and Assembly, accessible from the third floor, where visitors can sit and watch their legislators at work.

The Senate Chamber is a very attractive circular room, thirty-one feet in diameter and thirty-one feet six inches high. Above, there is a 28' circular ceiling skylight of low toned leaded glass. The marble walls in the Chamber are Italian Tavernelle, and the columns and pilasters are Escalette marble from France. Original, hand-carved walnut furnishings in this room include the Senate President's desk, the Clerk's desk, the round table and the Senators' desks.

In the front of the room, Kenyon Cox's mural, "The Marriage of the Atlantic and the Pacific" commemorates the opening of the Panama Canal. The artist chose this subject because this Capitol wing opened in 1913---just a year before the canal did. The cost of this mural was $12,000.

Points of Interest

This is the Assembly Chambers. It is located on the second floor of the west wing in the State Capitol.

Like the United States Congress, Wisconsin's Legislature has two houses - the Assembly and the Senate. There are ninety-nine representatives of the Assembly who are elected to two-year terms. The entire membership of the Assembly is up for election every two years. Traditionally, Republican members sit on the side of the room by the windows and the Democrats sit on the side by the doors. The leader of the Assembly (Speaker of the Assembly) presides over Assembly sessions at the large desk in the front of the Chambers.

The Assembly meets in this room to debate and vote on bills. In order for a bill to become a law in Wisconsin, it must be passed by both the Assembly and the Senate and then signed by the Governor. The bill can be introduced in either house and then it is referred to a legislative committee for study. The committee may hold public hearings on the bill. After detailed investigation, the committee recommends passage or rejection of the bill. Most bills that do not pass, die in committee. Bills that make it out of the legislative committee are then scheduled for floor debate, and if passed go to the other house for consideration. Any changes to a bill or "amendments" must be approved by both houses. When both houses have passed the same version of a bill, it goes to the Governor for signature. Approximately 2,000 bills are introduced during the two-year session of the Legislature, however only about 500 are passed into law.

Because the Assembly is so large, an electronic voting board is used to vote on bills. In fact, Wisconsin had the first electric voting machine in the world installed in the Assembly Chambers in 1917. The original system was replaced in 1939 by two voting boards in the front of the Chambers and in 1975, a computerized voting system was installed. An upgrade occurred in 1988 with the installation of a new totally computerized voting machine. Currently, a new system was installed in 1999, and it provides the citizens of Wisconsin with real time access to votes via the Legislature's web site. In addition, visitors to the Capitol can sit and watch their legislators at work via a third floor gallery in both the Assembly and Senate Chambers.

The Assembly Chamber is approximately seventy-three feet by sixty-eight feet by forty-one feet high. The white marble walls are Dover marble from New York and the columns are made of Italian marble. A 36' circular ceiling skylight of low toned leaded glass lights it from above. This is the largest of the four skylights in the Capitol. Original Wisconsin oak furnishings in this room include the Representatives' desks, the Speaker's desk, and the Clerk's podium.

The mural in the front of the Assembly Chamber is called "Wisconsin" which shows the past, present and future of our state. Edwin Blashfield of New York painted the mural at a cost of $15,000. The size of the mural is sixteen feet six inches by thirty-seven feet eight inches. The eagle on the ledge in front of the mural was donated to the State and is a replica of the original "Old Abe". During the Civil War, Abe was a mascot to the 8th Infantry Regiment from Eau Claire. Abe survived the war and was given to the Governor in the second Madison Capitol. He died in 1881 of smoke inhalation from a small fire. His body was mounted and displayed in the Civil War Museum but was destroyed in the 1904 fire.

Points of Interest

This is the North Hearing Room. It is located on the second floor in the north wing of the Capitol. This room is used by the legislature for public committee hearings.

The design of this room is very different from the State Capitol's Senate Chamber, Assembly Chamber and Supreme Court. It is carried out in a brilliant color scheme, with walls of yellow Verona marble and symmetrical Monte Rente Sienna panels between the pilasters. The wall base and floor border is of Porte d'Or Italian marble, which is black and gold. The room is treated with a coved ceiling and in the coves are painted murals by Charles Yardley Turner of New York, 1914-1915.

The murals in the North Hearing Room represent the four methods of transportation in Wisconsin from the earliest colonial times to the present day. Originally, the Railroad Commission used the Hearing Room so that is why the murals reflect the history of transportation. One mural depicts Native Americans on horseback; another shows a French trading post with a canoe as the method of transportation. The third painting represents the colonial period, with transportation by stagecoach. The last mural identifies modern transportation, with the steamboat, railroad, automobile and airplane.

Points of Interest

The décor of the Governor’s Office remains constant across administrations. The furniture is original to this room of the Capitol. Wall decorations and other displays reflect the personality, priorities and background of the sitting governor. Artwork is often provided by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The office also features gifts to the Governor and the State of Wisconsin from heads of state and other US elected officials.

Points of Interest