Today’s activity involved driving about 80 miles from Milwaukee to Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, and then sightseeing around the Wisconsin State Capitol area. If it seems that I’m not driving as far as usual each day that is because I left home two days earlier than I really needed to so that I could avoid being at Cedar Point roller coaster park on the weekend. Once I get closer to Alaska there will be some big driving days to make up for these mini trips.

The city of Madison sits on an isthmus, less than a mile wide, between Lake Mendota and Lake Monono and these lakes, together with the magnificent State Capitol, are the main physical features of the city. There are also cultural opportunities but many of these are associated with the University of Wisconsin which adds about 25% to the population of the city during term time.

I rarely visit State Capitols, let alone do the tour, but I’m glad I made an exception here. One reason is the openness of the place. Over the years since 9/11 security has often become so tight that it really interferes with the pleasure of visiting government buildings but here you simply walk up the steps, go in and wander around, Even without taking a tour you can explore five levels of the rotunda, enter the Wisconsin Supreme Court (even when it’s in session), go on the floor of the Senate (but not when it’s in session) and take the elevator to the outside observation platform just below the dome.

They also tolerate protests within the building and, when I arrived, there was a man with a placard claiming “Walker is a Crook” (referring to the current governor and former presidential candidate Scott Walker) who was shouting at the top of his lungs in the rotunda. The echo meant that he could be heard throughout the building. It was extremely annoying and, luckily, he left before my tour started.

The building itself is 100 years old and is beautiful, As is often the case, it was based on the national Capitol in Washington but the design uses natural light flowing through large, patterned skylights in every important room and the variety of color and patterns of stone used is remarkable. On the tour we were taken into the Governor’s Office, the Supreme Court, the Senate and the Assembly room and encouraged to sit in the seats. It was such a refreshing, welcoming experience.

After leaving the capitol I walked the short distance to a small park on the shore of Lake Mendota and relaxed for a while before returning to the car and driving to the hotel.

The map/video is here.

The Wisconsin State Capitol
A composite image of the rotunda and dome
The Governors Office
View from the observation platform looking west toward Lake Mendota