A history of the capital

By: Vanessa Madosh

1836 is where it all started, the Wisconsin Territory was a part of the Northwest, Indiana and apart Michigan territories. In October of 1836, in a building rented from John Atchinson. It is a two-story, attic-framed building, forty-five feet by twenty-five feet; it also had a square battlement front. It took a year to finally get a permanent seat in government and finally construction of the Capital.

After 20 years needs are shown for the growing of the State. Construction started in the fall of 1857 all the way till 1867 when the dome was finally finished. 1903 the Legislature notices that the Capitol building is not able to fully serve. 1904 is where a tragic fire struck the capital and it destroyed a large part of the capital.  In the 10 years up till 1914 the reconstruction of the damage was done. 1915 is when it opened to the public. 

In 1925 The US Senator Robert M. La Follete was a lawyer and a leading politician, he served three terms in Parliament. He died of a cardiovascular disease. Over 40,000 people came to pay their respects, but due to the crowded conditions in the capital. The capital built a public office building and that’s where they let the public go if they needed help or if they had any questions. Up to date in the 2000’s in the Wisconsin State Capital it is served as a national historic landmark. Where tourists are welcome to visit any time of the day it is fully open to the public. The general cost of the Capital renovation/restoration is around $145 million dollars.

The capital is so important to the people of Wisconsin, it holds so much history for Wisconsin. It’s held as a symbol of “high quality of life” and it is culturally centered for University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is also a part of the campos that students are free to visit. Also gives them a place to look into if they want to do when they graduate.