Gleaming and standing tall at the end of State Street is the Wisconsin State Capitol. The building stands at two-hundred and eighty-four feet and four inches high from the ground floor to the top statue on the dome. Encompassing the three branches of government; the west holds the Assembly, the south holds the Senate, the east holds the Governor’s Office and Supreme Court, and the north side holds the Hearing Rooms.

Every day, hundreds of conversations go on about creating laws, bills, discussing important ideas and general ways to make the great State of Wisconsin even greater. Our State Capitol is also unique in the sense that actual session and work gets done in the same building that is also open to citizens to wander around and discover the history behind the building for themselves.

The Capitol that has now stood for one hundred years is our third State Capitol. Wisconsin’s first legislature met at Leslie in Lafayette County, firmly known as Belmont. The Capital of the state was then moved to Madison, Wisconsin under influence from a federal circuit court judge. At this time the town was a small underdeveloped area of the state but showed much promise. The city was named after the fourth President of the United States, James Madison.

Throughout the years there have been many renovations to the Capitol in Madison, including the construction of the iconic dome. As a new project to renew the Capitol building was just getting started, a fire began in the Capitol that ruined a large chunk of the interior of the building. After the fire, builders constructed the newer and larger Capitol building we have today. The building cost just over seven million dollars in 1917.

The building has many large paintings, statues, and certain architectural style. The building includes forty-three kinds of stone from eight states and six countries. There are many hidden secrets like an unfinished exterior window facing Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a possible ghost of the Assembly, and a real bank vault in the West Wing.

Going beyond the exciting interior, the State Capitol Building is also the center for many events around Capitol Square. Throughout the springtime to early in the fall, Saturday on the Square is a popular event where many residents from Madison and the surrounding area partake in a farmer’s market with a plethora of food, crafts, and flowers.

Freakfest is also a popular event around Halloween where music lovers travel and tough out the coldness for an amazing concert right in front of the Capitol Building. Many activists and protesters also choose the Capitol to be their stage to say state their beliefs. Performers of the arts also choose to display their talent on this grand stage.

While the Capitol Building is home to many social events in the Madison community, its main function is the passing of legislation. In 2011, Act 10 also known as the Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill was proposed by Governor Scott Walker, causing unions and other groups to come to the Capitol Building to protest.

The scene caused many national news stations to pick up the story, causing the Capitol Building to be so packed that it was almost uncontrollable. Many other laws have been passed since then in the Wisconsin State Capitol including controversial economic and social issues.

A hundred years of the Wisconsin State Capitol means one hundred years of history of Wisconsin, both the bad and the good in one wonderful building. A bi-partisan Centennial Commission was created in January to plan other events related to the 100^th anniversary. Some of these events include a gala, antique car show, and an essay contest.

The State Capitol building is celebrating one hundred years of existence, and although the State of Wisconsin has existed longer, this building is an iconic landmark unique to Wisconsin. The building can be seen from many places around the city thanks to the Capitol View Preservation Ordinance, which states that the State Capitol Building must be the tallest building in Madison.

For residents of the State of Wisconsin, I would suggest a trip to the State Capitol Building to take in a great view and reminisce about the history of Wisconsin’s government. As the Wisconsin Statue that stands tall on the very top of the Capitol Building symbolizes, Forward. Here’s to another one hundred years of a truly alluring building!