The Wisconsin State Capitol is 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 also host 154 trees, representing 30 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 inches shorter than our Nation's Capitol in Washington, D.C.
The exterior of the Capitol is entirely constructed of White Bethel, Vermont, granite. This material compares to marble in terms of whiteness and overall 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 by volume in the United States and among the largest in the world. It is also the only granite dome in the United States. The dome consists of an inner and an outer structure. The inner dome (coffer dome) is visible from the Capitol rotunda. Three observation decks encircle the outer dome. The lowest observation deck is open to the public 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 atop it, and on her helmet is our state animal, the badger. Daniel Chester French of New York sculpted the statue for $20,325.