Madison, WI, has a long and rich history that dates back hundreds of years. The land on which the town sits was occupied by Native Americans who built thousands of effigy mounds, earning them the name “mound builders.” Before the white settlers descended upon the area, the Ho-Chunk Nation Indians regarded the area as their ancestral home well into the 1940s. They built their homes around the lakes that populated the vast expanse. James Duane Doty, a former district judge, and land speculator is the founding father of Madison, WI, having committed his resources to acquire huge chunks of land in the area. He had been moving through the isthmus in 1829 when he caught sight of the land and decided to buy it. The land was so appealing to his eye that he could not resist the urge to acquire it. In 1836, the district judge founded the city and had it named after former president James Madison who had died in the summer. The naming was to honor the legacy of the 4th president of the United States. In 1836, Doty made a strong case to the legislature as to why Madison’s status should be elevated to that of a capital city. Legislators found his case compelling and voted in favor of the city becoming the capital of Wisconsin. What’s more, the legislature granted Doty’s request to have a university established there. Businesses and industries started pitching tents in the city in 1850 thanks to the efforts of a wealthy businessman from Milwaukee known as Leonard J. Farwell. A railroad was built in 1854, setting the city up for even greater development. Eight years after Wisconsin was elevated to the status of a state, the population of Madison ballooned to 6, 864. Yankees from the eastern states became the first people to inhabit the place. The Germans, Irish, and Norwegians would follow shortly thereafter. It is until the turn of the 20th century that Italians, Greeks, and Jews arrived. Given its elevated status as a seat of government, Madison has long been the center of Wisconsin’s intellectual and political life. At the height of the civil war that threatened to destroy the union, soldiers trained at Camp Randall. The 20th century ushered in progressive reforms in the city, including the respect for workers’ rights, unemployment insurance, and social security. It is these reforms that earned Madison, WI the reputation of being a liberal state.

Show Up At The Wisconsin State Building
The Wisconsin State Building is not just a building where laws are made and debated. It is an architectural masterpiece that stands proudly in Madison, WI. You don’t have to be an architecture buff to be impressed by its epic design. Finished in 1917, it’s always teeming with excited domestic and international tourists keen on soaking in its jaw-dropping beauty.

You will definitely be amazed by its 284-foot-high dome, ornate marble work, and its murals crafted in German, Italian and French styles.

Indulge Your Passion For Art At Chazen Museum Of Art
On display at the Chazen Museum of Art is a bewildering array of art that includes drawings, paintings, sculptures, and photography. The works of outstanding artists like Shusaku Arakawa, Rodin, and Gainsborough are featured here. Beyond being a remarkable repository of great art, the museum plays host to traveling exhibits and chamber music programs.

Visit The Henry Vilas Zoo
The zoo, founded in 1924 and owned by the city of Madison, is home to different animals from the arctic, savannah, and plains habitats. It also features a zoo made for children to indulge in the splendors of the wild. The children’s zoo is equipped with an electric train, and a carousel to ensure that your kids have an enjoyable outing.

Animals domiciled at the zoo include reticulated giraffes, African lions, and Amur tigers.

Soak In Military History At The Wisconsin Veterans Museum
The museum pulsates with the history of the men and women who fought in the Civil War and Gulf War. On display are the tools that those who participated in the wars used, The paraphernalia is displayed in dramatic fashion with the intention to give visitors a sense of how precarious the times were when the wars were fought.