📜Facts About the Capitol's Architect
George Browne Post (1837 - 1913) started his career in 1858 after graduating from New York University with a degree in civil engineering. For two years, he studied architecture at the New York Studios of renowned architect Richard Morris Hunt.
In 1868, after a stint as an Army Officer in the Civil War, he opened his own architectural firm.
Post was part of the late 19th-century architectural movement that pioneered the use of steel to build taller, stronger structures, and several of his buildings appeared on Manhattan's skyline. Although many no longer stand, they included the 20-story Pulitzer Building (1889-90), also known as the World Building, and the 26-story St. Paul Building.
Post also participated in Chicago's Columbian Exposition in 1893, an important showcase for American Beaux-Arts style architecture. It was that exposition that fueled his desire to create "America's Grandest Monument," which he nearly constructed as a museum of history on the Hudson River in New York. Although that project never materialized, Post used a similar design, four proportional wings and a central dome, when designing the Wisconsin Capitol in 1906.
Post supervised much of the Capitol's construction and its interior design, but he died in November 1913 at the age of 76 before its completion. His sons, William S. and James O., who had joined their father in 1904 to form George B. Post & Sons, finished the project.
⌛State Capitol Timeline
1836
On July 4, 1836, the Wisconsin Territory, previously a part of the Northwest, Indiana, and Michigan territories, was organized at Mineral Point. The first Legislature meets at old Belmont (now Leslie, Lafayette County) on October 25, 1836, in a building rented from John Atchinson. It is a two-story, attic-framed building, forty-two feet by twenty-five feet, with a square battlement front. This building is preserved in its original state and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
1837
A long struggle over the location of the permanent seat of government takes place at Belmont. Finally, Madison, then merely a town on paper, is chosen through the influence of James Duane Doty, a former federal circuit judge. The prospective town was named in honor of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States.
In 1837, construction began on the new Madison Capitol. Stone for the first Madison Capitol is from Maple Bluff and is ferried across Lake Mendota to the foot of North Hamilton Street. Also, the oak used in the building is locally harvested from Gilman Street in Madison. The first Madison Capitol is of substantial size and compares favorably with contemporary capitols of adjacent and older states and territories. The cost of Wisconsin's first Capitol in Madison was $60,000.
1857
After 20 years, the first Madison Capitol proved inadequate to the State's growing needs. To relieve crowded conditions at the Capitol, the Legislature of 1857 provided for its replacement. The construction work on the second Madison Capitol began in the fall of 1857 and continued until 1869, when the dome was completed.
1882
The Legislature of 1882 appropriates $200,000 for the construction of two wings on the north and south sides of the original building. The two wings are added to the Capitol building to allow for additional space for the State Historical Society, the Supreme Court, the State Library, and increased legislative staff.
The completed structure measures two hundred and twenty-six feet from east to west and three hundred and ninety-six feet from north to south. From the base of the building to the top of the flagstaff, the height is two hundred and twenty-five feet. The general plan of the Capitol at this time is that of a cross, with two corridors intersecting at the rotunda. The cost of the second Capitol, including the additions and park improvements, is $900,000.
1903
Again, the Legislature recognizes that the Capitol building cannot fully serve its purpose, so it appoints a Building Commission to consider the construction of a third, new, and larger Capitol building in Madison.
1904
The Building Commission hardly begins its initial assignment when the February 27, 1904, fire destroys a large part of the interior of the Capitol building. At this time, a new, larger Capitol becomes necessary.
1906
In 1906, the Legislature directed the Building Commission to select an architect, secure plans, and proceed with the construction of a new Capitol. The Commission approves the plan of George B. Post & Sons of New York. However, the financial limitations imposed, along with the necessity of housing government during the erection of the building, result in extending the construction over several years and in building it one wing at a time.
Construction of the west wing, which was the most heavily damaged area from the 1904 fire, was undertaken first. Work to rebuild the west wing starts late in 1906. The west wing was completed and made ready for the Legislature in 1909.
1908
Construction of the east wing begins and is completed in 1910.
1909
The legislature meets for the first time in the new west wing of the Capitol.
1910
Construction of the South wing begins and is completed in 1913.
1911
Construction begins on the rotunda and dome, and is completed in 1915.
1914
Construction of the North wing begins and is completed in 1917.
C. Speahr of New York gilds the statue "Wisconsin" - first with a coat of lead-zinc oxide and oil paint, then with 22-carat gold leaf. Unfortunately, the statue is marred during installation, and some areas are locally re-gilded. The original cost of the statue is $20,325.
1915
Guided tours of the Capitol building were first offered to the public in 1915.
1917
Construction of the third Madison Capitol is completed for a cost of $7.2 million. The dedication of the Capitol building is deferred due to World War I.
The first Wisconsin Capitol Guide was published upon the completion of the building. From the first edition, The Wisconsin State Capitol Guide and History is the only one of its kind to be sanctioned and recognized as the official history and guide of the Wisconsin State Capitol.
Wisconsin has the world's first electric voting machine, installed in the Assembly Chamber in 1917. The cost for this machine is $11,600.
1923
The Christmas Pageant took place for the first time at the Capitol in 1923. The pageant is held outdoors for the first year, but is moved inside the following year. It has been held in the Capitol since then, except during 1997 and 1998 when the rotunda was closed for renovations.
1925
Robert "Fighting Bob" La Follette lies in state in the Capitol's rotunda, where an estimated 40,000 people pay their respects. Robert M. La Follette Sr. was a U.S. Senator, Presidential candidate, and Governor of Wisconsin from 1901 to 1906.
1931
Due to crowded conditions in the Capitol, the State builds an office building on Wilson Street. This is the first time the Capitol is not the home for all state government.
Beginning in 1931, the public was no longer allowed access to the top of the outer dome or lantern. However, the tour continues to the top of the inner dome.
1932
The statue "Wisconsin" is cleaned and re-gilded for $444.
1937
Beginning in 1937, a huge electric "W" decorates the Capitol dome during the college football season. The "W" is twelve feet high and thirteen feet wide, with 250 red light bulbs that glow toward the State Street/University area on football weekends.
1942
In an effort to conserve energy during World War II, the large red electric "W" was permanently removed from the Capitol dome.
1957
In July 1957, Wallace Jaka cleans and re-gilds the statue "Wisconsin" at a cost of $1,100. He uses 9,500 sheets of gold leaf, silver solder to repair holes, and a steeplejack technique to scale the statue.
1959
In August 1959, Governor Nelson opened the Capitol rotunda tourist information booth.
1964
The Capitol is sandblasted and given an "acid bath" to remove pollution stains from its granite exterior. However, the cleaning process damages some of the stone. The work was completed in 1965 for a cost of $41,000.
1965
On July 7, 1965, forty-eight years after its completion, Governor Knowles held the Capitol's dedication ceremony.
1966
Hiriam Hoelzer, of New York, conserves the murals in the Assembly, the Senate, the Governor's Conference Room, and the North Hearing Room for a cost of $21,500.
1967
The Legislature creates the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board (SCERB). This Board is responsible for establishing standards for the design, composition, and appropriateness of repairs, replacements, and additions made to the State Capitol and Executive Residence.
In 1967, the Department of Public Instruction left the Capitol building. This marks the first time a cabinet member does not have an office in the Capitol.
Dorothy Knowles, wife of Governor Warren Knowles, proposes to remodel the Governor's Conference Room by covering over the dark cherry wood walls and gilded ceiling with white paint. The plan generates significant publicity and opposition but is approved by the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board (SCERB), which takes it as its first official action.
1968
The Capitol rotunda is being renovated, including cleaning the inner dome's mural and the interior walls. This is accomplished by using an expanded telescope scaffold. The scaffold is suspended from the oculus of the inner dome and is raised or lowered on cables. Other projects include painting over the rotunda dome stencils, cleaning and varnishing the rotunda mural, and cleaning and repairing the glass mosaics.
Another major 1968 project is the renovation of the plumbing system. Prior to this time, direct lake water was used throughout the Capitol, so there was no safe drinking water in the building.
1969
Father James Groppi and supporters protest welfare budget cuts and occupy the State Assembly Chamber for nearly 11 hours. Father Groppi is arrested on charges of legislative contempt. The case involving the contempt charge eventually reaches the U.S. Supreme Court. A ruling is made in Groppi's favor.
1976
The North Hearing Room is remodeled with new carpeting, a new podium, and a new sound system. In addition, the marble and murals in the room are cleaned. The total cost of the project is $32,500.
The Assembly and Senate areas were painted and redecorated in 1976. Murals are cleaned, cracks are repaired, they are retouched in oil, and they are varnished.
1977
The Secretary of State's office was moved out of the Capitol.
1980
The Department of Administration issues the "State Capitol Restoration Guidelines". The guidelines recommend restoring the Capitol to its architectural glory, stating that "past renovations had made serious mistakes that harmed the architectural integrity of the building and should be rectified."
The State Constitution display case was built in the rotunda in 1980 for $8,564.
1981
The State Treasurer's office was moved out of the Capitol.
1982
The State Building Commission approves over $1 million to restore the original cherry wood windows, rather than replacing them with energy-efficient aluminum windows.
1987
The Capitol Master Plan is approved, which calls for a single, large-scale renovation/restoration. The Capitol is rededicated as part of the State's bicentennial celebration of the U.S. Constitution.
1988
The Assembly Chamber is renovated/restored as a pilot project in the Capitol Master Plan. The renovation/restoration includes the cleaning or refurbishing of the marble, woodwork, brass hardware, and light fixtures. Plaster surfaces are scraped, patched, and painted using historic decorative schemes, and gold leaf surfaces are cleaned and touched up. The skylight is also cleaned and repaired. A new computerized voting machine has been installed. New carpet is laid to replicate the original red carpet. The mural at the front of the room is carefully cleaned, inch by inch, with 20,000 cotton swabs. The Assembly finishes its legislative session in the North Hearing Room while the Assembly Chamber is restored to its original 1909 condition. The Assembly Chamber project was completed in January 1989 at a cost of $800,000.
In 1988, two vandals damaged 32 first-floor windows in all four wings of the Capitol.
1989
The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) museum was moved from its Capitol location to 30 West Mifflin Street. It reopened on June 6, 1993, as the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.
1990
The north wing is closed for renovation/restoration, causing Assembly members to relocate their offices. The renovation was completed in December 1992 at a cost of $18.9 million.
The "Heg" statue on King Street and the "Forward" statue on North Hamilton Street were conserved in 1990. They are first cleaned with detergent and water, then blasted with ground walnut shells at low pressure to remove corrosion, and finally sealed with a pigmented wax to provide uniform color and to protect them from the outside elements.
1993
In February 1993, the west wing was closed for renovation/restoration, forcing the State Assembly to relocate for two years to the former Guardian Insurance Building at 119 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The renovation was completed in July 1995 at a cost of $18.5 million.
1995
The "Forward" statue is removed from the North Hamilton walkway because it is deteriorating due to exposure to the elements. The statue is conserved and displayed permanently in the lobby of the State Historical Society headquarters on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.
1996
In March 1996, the south wing was closed for renovation/restoration, moving the State Senate to its two-year temporary quarters at the Guardian Insurance Building. The renovation was completed in January 1999 at a cost of $29.9 million.
In August 1996, a bronze replica of the statue "Forward" was installed on the State Street steps on the seventy-sixth anniversary of the women's suffrage movement. The money to produce the bronze replica is raised by the Friends of Forward Committee.
1997
In August of 1997, the renovation/restoration of the rotunda began and was completed in October 1998. The cost of this project is $8.9 million.
1998
The Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial was placed on the Capitol grounds in 1998. The memorial is inscribed with the names of Wisconsin law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty since statehood. The cost of the memorial is approximately $400,000 and is funded by private donations.
1999
Renovation/restoration on the east wing began in July 1999. The Governor's Office moves into temporary quarters in the south wing. The Attorney General's Office and the Supreme Court are temporarily located in nearby office buildings. The Supreme Court's Law Library has been permanently moved from the Capitol. The east wing renovation was completed in November 2001 at a cost of $58.6 million.
2000
June 2000 marks the beginning of the Capitol exterior cleaning and restoration project. The exterior of the Capitol is conserved using a sponge jetting process. After sponge-jetting, the granite is repaired, and tuckpointing and joint caulking are also done. The process was completed in November 2001at a cost of $5.3 million.
2001
The Wisconsin State Capitol is designated a National Historic Landmark. The entire cost of the State Capitol renovation/restoration project is $145 million.
2011
As many as 100,000 protestors demonstrated against the 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, also known as the Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill. Protestors camped out in the Capitol Rotunda for several weeks.
2017
The Capitol observes the centennial of its completion with a months-long celebration, including a display in the Rotunda, an evening gala, and a commemorative centennial ornament.
2020
The two statues on the Capitol grounds, “Forward" and Colonel Heg, were torn down during civil unrest in June. The statues were reinstalled on the grounds in 2021.
2024
A statue of Vel Phillips is installed on the South Hamilton walkway in July. This is the first statue of a person of color on the Wisconsin State Capitol grounds. Phillips was a civil rights leader and the first African American woman elected to statewide office in Wisconsin (Secretary of State).