An Exclusive Look Inside the Capitol As Our Favorite Landmark Turns 100 Our Dome, Our Home
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SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017 An exclusive look inside the Capitol as our favorite landmark turns 100 Our dome, our home 00 1 I2 | SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017 A statement in granite JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL Eager to tell its story, Wisconsin built a monument to progress Today, it feels as if it’s always been there. But more than a century styled masterpiece relied on popular architectural elements of the time, including ago, after fire destroyed most of what had been the state’s third an emphasis on symmetry, classically Capitol, members of the Wisconsin Capitol Commission set out to inspired sculpture and modern innovations. imagine the possibilities for the state’s new seat of government. The Capitol’s rotunda provides a central point for four symmetrical wings to The resulting project is more than a ture of each floor of the Capitol. From its meet. The exterior, made of Bethel White magnificent edifice. It’s also a civics lesson, cavernous rotunda to the warren of Granite from Vermont, is adorned with intended to show that the state had legislative, judicial and executive branch columns, statues and pediments modeled advanced from its days as a territorial offices in its four wings, each area has its after classical works. Underneath the JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL frontier into an established center of own story to tell. granite, a steel frame forms the skeleton of commerce. The scale and opulence of the “The art of the Capitol consists of the building. building was meant to convey the state’s many little stories or vignettes about how There is no main entrance, but many reverence for government, while the people saw Wisconsin at that particular entrances on all sides. The message, View the Capitol online artwork depicted the history and ideals of time,” Draeger said. “What did we think was Draeger said, is that “government is open to For a floor-by-floor interactive graphic of the Capitol its people. important to tell people about the history the people and we want people to feel featuring photos and 360-degree panoramas, visit: “Today when we build a government and this state?” invited into the building.” go.madison.com/capitoltour building, we’re On the outside, stately granite Despite its age, the Capitol today “Government concerned about sculptures in the pediments at the end of actually looks more like it did originally cost, number one, each of the building’s four wings describe than it had in later years, thanks to an is open to the and about being a essential principles, from the resources of extensive renovation project spanning from people and safe, good, efficient the state (West), justice through the law 1988 to 2002. we want spending of tax (East), traits of character (South) and Before the renovation, murals had dollars,” said Jim learning and knowledge (North). become coated in dirt and grime. Decorative people to feel Draeger, an On the inside, large murals adorn stenciling had been painted over. Woodwork invited into architectural many of the walls and ceilings enshrining was damaged as cords were stapled on. historian at the inspirational models of government, from Researchers pored over every aspect the building.” Wisconsin the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 to the of the building to restore the public spaces Historical Society. signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Four to their original glory while creating a “But back then, they had some ideals that mosaics were commissioned for the modern and functional office space. Murals they intended to convey.” rotunda, each using more than 100,000 were carefully cleaned with cotton swabs. Screenshot goes here Every detail, from the grand staircases pieces of glass. The Kenyon Cox works Paint samples were tested to reveal the on the first floor to the classical figures in depict legislation, government, justice and patterns of the original stenciling on the the mosaics overlooking the rotunda, has liberty, each represented by classical walls. Air-conditioning and heating ducts meaning. Bundles of wheat signify the human figures. were fitted into inconspicuous places – like farmers who, in 1917, helped make Wiscon- While rooted in the classical style, the marble fireplace in the Governor’s sin the breadbasket of America. Murals many touches inside and outside the Capitol Conference Room. depict scenes from the past and prospects are unique to the state and the people who Artists and historians continue to for the future. Sculptures of badgers placed called Wisconsin home at the time it was repair damage and wear to the Capitol as it throughout the building honor the miners built, said UW-Madison architectural is discovered. The goal is to keep the who settled southwestern Wisconsin. history professor Anna Andrzejewski. historic beauty of the Capitol alive so this To mark the 100th anniversary of the “It regionalizes what would have been century-old building can continue to teach Capitol’s completion, the Wisconsin State seen around the world at the time,” generations to come about the aspirations Journal has created this special section Andrzejewski said. of the its people and what it means to be examining the functions, art and architec- Architect George B. Post’s Beaux-Arts from Wisconsin. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL This is the first of five special sections the Wisconsin State Journal is producing Text by Shelley Mesch Graphics and illustrations by Jason Klein Editing by Phil Brinkman this year to mark the 100th anniversary of the completion of the state Capitol in [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 1917. Look for future installments in June, August, October and November. (608) 252-6143 (608) 252-6109 608-252-6153 00 1 SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017 | I3 Basement The Capitol underground he basement is the workhorse of the Capitol, housing But even those had trouble keeping their doors open as A few offices are on this floor, including the Senate chief the maintenance staff that keep the building running, their customer base fluctuated wildly. During legislative clerk and sergeant-at-arms. T including the carpenters, custodians and Capitol Police. sessions, hungry lobbyists and spectators might be looking for Reflecting their diminished roles over the years as their Hardly glamorous, with its exposed pipes and fluorescent lunch or a late afternoon bite. But when the Legislature wasn’t in duties have been farmed out to other agencies, the offices of the lighting, this area today is rarely visited by the public, although session, the cafeteria often sat empty. state treasurer and secretary of state have also been relocated to that wasn’t always the case. Lunches are still eaten in the cafeteria, furnished today the basement from other offices. The treasurer’s office could go The central area directly below the rotunda once housed a with utilitarian tables and chairs, but the meals come from away altogether next year if voters approve a constitutional thriving full-service restaurant, although that closed and was brown bags brought by students and their chaperones visiting amendment abolishing the position. followed by a succession of counter-service restaurants. the Capitol on field trips. North and west wings The north wing is the mechanical hub for the Capitol. During the restoration process, massive structural changes were made to this part of the basement to accommodate new utility equipment, like an electrical substation and its ventila- tion. The northwest pavilion was once a marble-walled barbershop but is now used by Capitol Police. In the west wing, Mechanical the state treasurer’s and secretary of state’s offices, once consisting of several employees in a suite of offices, are now cheek by jowl in a single room each. Capitol Police Utility State treasurer Basement Secretary of state Electrical Locksmith Lighting shop Steamfitting shop Custodial Electrical Electrical Plumbing and mechanic shop Cafeteria Utility B Utility A Offices Senate/Assembly mail room Trash and recycling Groundskeeeping Masonry shop South and shop east wings Utility The Senate sergeant-at-arms, which maintains order and manages the day-to-day operations of the Senate, has offices in the south wing, while the Senate chief clerk’s office is housed in the southeast portion of the basement. A tourist orientation center in the southeast corner of the rotunda offers visitors a brief audio-visual tour of the Capitol. Maintenance shops fill out most of the the east wing. Senate Audio/visual Tour area shop Executive Painting Electrician shop shop Carpentry shop A Cafeteria B Survey marker The Capitol cafeteria is a little-used public space directly below the rotunda. While it looks pretty much as The Capitol is thought to be the only one in the nation that sits at the it did 100 years ago, some of the ceiling paintings of Roman gods symbolizing food were damaged over intersection of four survey sections. Its four wings are perfectly aligned with time. Those were removed to be repaired but have since been replaced. the cardinal directions: north, south, east and west. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL 00 1 I4 | SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017 Ground floor Prelude to grandeur he ground floor of the Capitol is not called the first floor. The corridors on the ground floor have little natural light But even upon the completion of construction, the building That title is held for the floor above it, which can often be and have dark walls and floors, which was intentional. The was beginning to feel cramped. T confusing to visitors. architects wanted to dramatize the beauty of the rotunda, which Agency staff numbers grew, and legislators started to add When entering the ground floor, take a look at the ceiling is flooded with natural light from the windows below the dome their own staff.