Madison, Wisconsin

Completed in 1917 - I think this might be the most impressive state capitol building that we have ever visited. I was shocked when we walked in and there wasn’t security or x-ray machines at any entrance. You just walk in and enjoy. 

The Wisconsin State Capitol is the tallest building in Madison, a distinction that has been preserved by legislation that prohibits buildings taller than the columns surrounding the dome. 

Badgers over entrances to chambers. 

Simply gorgeous and they let you walk outside the dome. 

Next stop Monona Terrace. designed by Wisconsin native Frank Lloyd Wright. He designed the concept In 1938, but controversy delayed the project and it wasn’t completed until 1997. 

The Terrace had a lovely cafe and we stopped for cheese curds and a spotted cow. Both firsts for me and super yummy. 

We roamed around the downtown area. Lots of neat shops, street performers and restaurants. 

 

We visited the very unimpressive Madison Contemporary Art Museum. 

One entire hall was dedicated to Austin, Tx artist Natalie Frank. I took a picture of the only not totally nightmare-ish piece of art. We decided she must not sleep at night. She based many of her works on her interpretation of Grimm’s Fairytales. Natalie  is talented but dark. 

An interactive art display was called “amends”. You could write your thoughts on ribbon and add to the collection. We are not better than anyone else - caught my attention. 

Then we visited a large collection of photographs called “Between”. Really weird photos of things between other things. An empty pool between winter and summer. A fence between houses. I wasn’t even inspired to take a picture. Decided that I could take a better “Between” photo! I call this “Between Normality and Covid” 

Appleton and Waupun Wisconsin

Hearthstone was the first house anywhere in the world to be incandescently illuminated by a water powered Western Edison Electric Light Company dynamo power station and an Edison Electric System.

Completed in 1882, for Henry J. Rogers, an entrepreneur and visionary, who not only built the house, he brought electrification technology to Wisconsin. The house was placed just feet from the Fox River that was used to power the house. 

Henry built the house as a showplace for his wife, Cremora. 

The woodwork and carvings were amazing. The craftsman doing the woodworking was 19 and paid $1 per day. Servants were paid $1 per week. 

So many antiques in one place - there was almost too much to look at. 

Family Living Room

Where the term “Turn on the Lights” came from. The switch below had to be turned to “turn on” the light. 

Each bulb’s cost was $1.50. Remember the servants were only paid $1.00 per week. 


Dining room

Painted ceilings 

I have never seen this type of storage for silverware before.  

Butlers pantry with copper sink

Kitchen

Ringer box to notify servants which room needed attention. Still works! 

Bedrooms 

One of the few houses of its time with indoor plumbing. 

They did studies and analyses of the walls and determined that they were originally painted. This would have been unusual in the 1890s but Sherwin Williams was just getting started and these folks wanted the best. It is believed that the color of everything now is very close to what was selected in the day. 

 Laundry room

Mark trying out a period bicycle! 

Following our GPS to Madison. We passed through the tiny community of Waupun with a huge maximum security prison in the middle of the town. You gotta read this history! 

July 4, 1851, the Governor selected Waupun to be the site of the Wisconsin State Prison. Using prisoners for labor, the first permanent building was completed in 1854, and is still in use today.  

Archive- image of original prison 

Additions were made over the years in 1855, 1906, 1913, 1940, and 1998. 

Houses - well the whole community- surround the prison. Houses on one side of the street and maximum security prison on the other!  And we worry about our property values!  LOL. 

Visiting a small part of the UP - we are among the Yoopers!

We continued our Michigan journey through the UP - upper peninsula - on the scenic byway. This area gets more snow than most of the eastern US and I keep wondering why anyone would want to live here. Though beautiful, I couldn’t handle such a long and cold winter. I think you have to be tough to be a Yooper. 

The downtowns and the houses along the lake are really beautiful. We stopped in Manistique to see the lighthouse and have lunch. 

Visited Escanaba Sands Point Lighthouse and drove through their historic district. 

We ended our UP travels (we will have to come back to explore Lake Superior) in the last town before Wisconsin, Menominee. The city came up with a fun little scavenger hunt. So we hopped on our bikes to find the points of interest. It was an easy ride, but had to stop for a beer break at Murray’s Pub. 

The first firehouse. It has a 1 painted on the front near the roof. Built in the late 1800’s, the fire wagon was horse drawn. 

The yacht club and the light house were pretty easy 

The water plant built in 1884 is now city offices. 

Banks look like banks!  Pretty easy to spot these built in 1908. 

The first saloon and hotel called the Charles House built in 1881. 

The 1920 gas station- it would be cool to see this restored with old pumps. 

The Barclays Livery Stable built in 1882 needs some love. 

The cow house! 

We found all 27 places - but I won’t bore you with more!  On to Wisconsin, tomorrow.