Attractions
For more attractions go to the visitor Attractions page.
Located on the downtown isthmus bordered by lakes Monona and Mendota, the Wisconsin State Capitol building, completed in 1917, features the only granite dome in the United States. The interior of the 284 foot-high Capitol contains 43 varieties of stone from around the world, decorative murals, glass mosaics, and hand-carved furniture. Year-round tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m. A 4:00 p.m. tour is offered weekdays (excluding holidays), Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission is free. Call ahead for group reservations 608.266.0382.
Each Saturday morning 18,000 people visit the Capitol Square to partake in one of the finest farmers' markets in the country. It's a Madison tradition to take a stroll around the Square and survey the fresh produce, herbs, plants, flowers, cheeses, bakery items and other delicacies from 300 local vendors. The market runs on Saturdays from late April Saturday through the first Saturday in November from 6:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. Wednesday's Farmers' Market runs from 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. from the first Wednesday in May through the last Wednesday in October in the 200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
MONONA TERRACE® COMMUNITY AND CONVENTION CENTER
Located in the heart of Madison, Monona Terrace brings to life a design originally inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1938. This 250,000-squarefoot building combines spectacular vistas with flexible meeting and exhibition space. The expansive rooftop garden is the perfect spot for a picnic or concert. Monona Terrace offers year-round community programs such as the free "Tunes at Monona Terrace" series and "Dane Dances." The gift shop offers an artful selection of merchandise. Daily tours at 1:00 p.m.; tour fee is $3 per person. Groups of 10 or more should call 608.261.4015 two weeks in advance. One John Nolen Dr., Madison, WI 53703. 608.261.4000.
Overture Center for the Arts has transformed the 200 block of State Street into an impressive 400,000 square-foot, world-class visual and performing arts facility. The completion of Phase I construction in September 2004 unveiled the magnificent Overture Hall, with its dazzling lobby, four new performance and rehearsal spaces and additional reception spaces. Phase II, completed in April 2006, yielded a larger Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the newly renovated Capitol and Playhouse Theaters. Located at 201 State St., Madison. 608.258.4177.
MADISON MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (MMoCA)
MMoCA encompasses 51,500 square feet of interior space, including highly flexible gallery space and a rooftop restaurant and sculpture garden. The permanent collection features nearly 5,000 works of art, including a vast selection of American paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, and sculptures. MMoCA also coordinates Art Fair on the Square, which brings more than 200,000 enthusiastic fairgoers and nearly 500 artisans to Madison's Capitol Square each summer. 227 State St., Madison. 608.257.0158
This wonderful hands-on museum for children ages birth to twelve is an award-winning organization which fosters family and community connections, and provides a place where every child can learn through play in an interactive environment. MCM's hands-on exhibits and programs celebrate and encourage children's imaginations and the power of play as the cornerstone of learning. The museum is preparing for the opening of its new facility at 100 N. Hamilton Street on the north corner of the Capitol Square. It will reopen August 14 with plenty of new, exciting exhibits along with some favorites from the previous location. 100 N. Hamilton St., Madison. 608.256.6445.
One of the nation's few free zoos, the Henry Vilas Zoo is open year-round. See a wide variety of wild animals, birds, reptiles and fish, including a children's zoo during the summer months. The Zoo also has the Exotic Frog Exhibit with three new state of the art terrariums that contain native South American plants and have individual life support systems that create a natural and enriched environment for some very beautiful and highly endangered frogs. Grounds hours: 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. daily. Building hours: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. 702 S. Randall Ave., Madison. 608.266.4732.
The Wisconsin Historical Museum is located on Madison's Capitol Square and is full of wonderful information about the State's rich history. Explore Wisconsin's distinctive heritage and a variety of other American history topics through artifacts, photographs, full-scale dioramas, audio-visual presentations, and interactive multimedia programs. Open Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Closed every Sunday and Monday. 30 N. Carroll St., Madison. 608.264.6555.
The museum honors Wisconsin's citizen-soldiers through large-scale exhibits, displays and presentations. The 10,000-square-foot museum contains two main galleries, a gift shop, and exhibit space for displays that change periodically. Conveniently located on the Capitol Square. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sundays, April through September only, Noon-4:00 p.m. Closed holidays. 30 W. Mifflin St., Madison. 608.267.1799 Free.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens offers a spectacular tropical conservatory, 16 acres of outdoor display gardens, and a botanical center. Outdoor gardens are open 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. (April through September) and 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. (October through March). Admission is free. Conservatory hours are 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday- Saturday, and 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the Conservatory is $1 for adults; children 5 and under are admitted for free. 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison.
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON CAMPUS
The fourth largest and one of the top ranked public universities in the nation, UW-Madison is located on the southern shores of Lake Mendota just west of downtown Madison. The campus offers a plethora of sights and welcomes visitors to the grounds and buildings. The first stop for visitors is the Welcome Center located at 21 North Park Street, Madison: hours of operation Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. General campus information is available by calling 608.262.4636 or www.vip.wisc.edu.Tour information is available at 608.263.2400. Hours may vary during UW breaks and holidays.
Designed by Harry Weese, the museum's collections include ancient Greek ceramics, Indian miniatures, European and American paintings. The Museum hosts touring regional, national and international art exhibits. Guided tours of the museum's exhibitions are regularly available on Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. Open Tuesday to Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is free. 800 University Ave., Madison. 608.263.2246.
Visit the giant mastodon, trademark of this history-laden museum. Displays include minerals, meteorites, rock collections, fossil plants and animals. Hours: Weekdays 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Parking is limited. 1215 W. Dayton St., Madison. 608.262.2399.
Featuring English, Victorian, and New American gardens, this 2.5 acre garden on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus contains over 1,400 different plants labeled by their scientific and common names. The garden is located on the site of a historic Victorian home that once served as a residence for university deans. Located on the corner of Observatory and Babcock drives. Open dawn to dusk. Free admission. 620 Babcock Dr., Madison. 608.262.1549.
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON ARBORETUM
An oasis in the heart of the city, the Arboretum embraces part of Lake Wingra and 1200 acres of shore, stream, marsh and prairie. Contains native and cultivated shrubs and trees, restored prairie grasses and wildflowers, and over 200 varieties of lilacs. Open year-round. Free admission. 1207 Seminole Hwy. Madison. 608.263.7888.
