State Capitol - Madison - Postcard

State Capitol, Madison, Wisconsin The city of Madison was founded in 1836 on the isthmus between lakes Mendota and Monona. James Duan Doty, the founder lobbied to select Madison as the new capital. (He offered buffalo robes to the freezing legislators.) The new capital was located between the old and new cities of Wisconsin and the lead mining regions. The old capitol building was destroyed by a fire in 1904 (according to Wikipedia five weeks after the State Legislature voted to cancel the The new capitol building was constructed over 11 years and cost $7.25 million (25 cent / state resident). For financial reasons they could build only one wing at a time. The architect was George Browne Post. He was an army officer in the Civil War and later opened his own architectural firm. He built many skyscrapers in Manhattan. The Capitol offers several daily guided tours, but you can walk around on your own, if you want. The two main passageways of the building are practically "pedestrian streets". The interior is nicely decorated and the chairs of the legislators are comfortable.