By Killian Winkel, Fox Cities
The Dome
Wisconsin is very proud of its dome. If you take a tour of the Wisconsin Capitol building, the tour guides will tell you several times that it is “the tallest dome by volume in the United States, and one the biggest in the world.” It is also the only granite dome in America. No building is allowed to be built taller than the capitol, ensuring the dome stands tall over the city. If you have the time, stand directly under the center of the dome. When you look towards the sky, the sight is spectacular.
Old Abe
Under the large mural in the Assembly, a bald eagle stands tall, forever watching over the politicians. His name is Old Abe. He was a mascot in the Civil War. According to legends, he would rally the 8th Infantry Regiment from Eau Claire, flying above the battlefield screaming his war cry. After the war, he was given as a gift to the governor in 1864. He toured the country and signed autographs by pecking a hole in photographs. When he wasn’t traveling, Old Abe was resting at the Capitol. Unfortunately, this was where he was when there was a fire near his cage. The smoke damaged his lungs, and he died a month later. He was taxidermied and placed in the Grand Army Memorial Hall, where he was to stand forever. Sadly, a fire struck the capitol again, killing Old Abe a second time and destroying his remains. In honor and memory of Old Abe, a second eagle has taken his place and stands in the Assembly Chambers.
Wisconsin (the statue)
Atop the large dome of the Capitol, stands “Wisconsin”; not the state, but a statue of a woman. The woman has an eagle in one hand while the other points skyward, facing Washington DC. Atop her head is a badger, our state animal. She was placed on the dome in 1914, standing 15 feet 5 inches tall. Daniel Chester sculpted the statue, costing around $20,000.
The Senate and Assembly Murals
The Capitol has many murals, including one in each the Senate and Assembly Chambers. In the Senate, there are three murals placed together across the front wall. On the left, several women representing China, Japan, and Hawaii sit on boats, greeted by “Commerce”. On the right mural are figures representing Britain, Germany, and France . In the center is America on a throne watching the two oceans. The Pacific and Atlantic shake hands to represent the creation of the Panama Canal. In the Assembly, a woman representing Wisconsin sits on a throne. She is surrounded by other women, the three large bodies of water around Wisconsin: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and the Mississippi River. On the right of Wisconsin the past, Civil War soldiers, French traders, and American Indians all stand here. In front is The Present, pointing towards the new Capitol. Three figures representing the three major jobs at the time are behind Present. Behind them all is a shadowy figure, the Future.
