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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes) |
Capitol Square has long been the heart of the city
The Madison Heritage Series
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By Dawn Toman, July 24, 2010 | |
| | | 1. Capitol Square has long been the heart of the city Marker | | |
Inscription. Even before Madison was founded, people met to exchange money and merchandise not far from this spot. Five hundred Ho-Chunk camped near the square in 1832 to swap furs for trader Oliver Armel’s goods.
People began building businesses on Capitol Square in 1837. The first settlers lived on King Street, and downtown centered on the intersection of King, Main and Pinckney streets. The earliest hotels appeared on Pinckney Street, to host visiting legislators and government officials, and James Richardson opened Madison’s first bank on the corner of Pinckney Street and East Washington Avenue.
Madison’s first trains arrived in 1854, and growth on the square continued
as businesses sought to attract rail-riding customers from nearby depots. The square’s status as Madison’s first business hub helped make it the city’s favorite place for political speeches, parades, holiday events, protests, outdoor markets and victory celebrations.
Sidebar:
Standing here and looking down Pinckney Street toward Lake Monona in 1885, you would have observed a vital thoroughfare, part of Madison’s original downtown. At that time, the square as a whole boasted 124 stores. Capitol Square remained Madison’s liveliest shopping district until well into the 20th century. At that time, the green space around the capitol was also the
city’s | | | | 
By Dawn Toman, July 24, 2010 | |
| | | 2. Capitol Square has long been the heart of the city Marker | | Closeup of South Pinckney Street, ca. 1885 drawing on marker | | |
largest park. No wonder the square was Madison’s undisputed center—and remains a popular staging ground for public events.
Erected 2006 by City of Madison.
Location. 43° 4.529′ N, 89° 22.968′ W. Marker is in Madison, Wisconsin, in Dane County. Marker is at the intersection of East Washington Avenue and South Pinckney Street, on the left when traveling west on East Washington Avenue. Click for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 South Pinckney Street, Madison WI 53703, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Outdoor markets are a Madison tradition (within shouting distance of this marker); American Exchange Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); American House (within shouting distance of this marker); Olson and Veerhusen Building / Hobbins Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Maeder Building / Ellsworth Block (about 300 feet away, in a direct line); Hans Christian Heg (about 300 feet away); Winterbotham Building (about 400 feet away); Suhr Bank Building (about 400 feet away). Click for a list of all markers in Madison.
More about this marker. This marker is part of the The Madison Heritage Series, Sharing Our Legacy, created for Madison's sesquicentennial. The marker was sponsored by the Madison Community Foundation, American Family Insurance, and M&I Bank. |
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By Dawn Toman, July 24, 2010 | |
| | | 3. Capitol Square has long been the heart of the city Marker | | View of the Capitol with marker in lower right | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on July 23, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 374 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 24, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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