Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The American Character

Bascom Hill Historic District

Photographed by William J. Toman, July 4, 2012

1. The American Character Marker

Inscription. At the end of the nineteenth century, one of the most popular classes at the University of Wisconsin was Frederick Jackson Turner's course on the American frontier. In those lectures, Turner shared beliefs about our nation's history that would help define what it means to be an American. His "Frontier Thesis" traced strains of American self-reliance and individualism to the hard experience of colonizing the rugged West. Turner's argument became one of the most influential ideas about the American experience ever posed in a classroom.

This marker is made possible by a grant from the UW Foundation

Erected 2001 by UW Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the University of Wisconsin series list.

Location. 43° 4.529′ N, 89° 24.157′ W. Marker is in Madison, Wisconsin, in Dane County. It can be reached from Bascom Mall. The marker is near the southwest corner of the Education Building on Bascom Hill on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Touch for map.

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Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 Bascom Mall, Madison WI 53706, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: North Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Dance (within shouting distance of this marker); Global Vision (within shouting distance of this marker); The School of Pharmacy (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Securing the Future (about 300 feet away); Natural Wonders (about 300 feet away); On the Air (about 300 feet away); The Power of Ideas (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison.

More about this marker. This marker is one of a series commemorating the sesquicentennial of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Also see . . .
1. Frontier Thesis - Wikipedia.

Photographed by William J. Toman, July 4, 2012

2. The American Character Marker

The marker is to the left of the light pole, with the Education Building in the background.

(Submitted on June 26, 2010, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)
2. Frederick Jackson Turner - Wikipedia. (Submitted on June 26, 2010, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

Education Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, July 4, 2012

3. Education Building

This is the main entrance to the Education Building on Bascom Hill, just east of the marker.

Detail on the Education Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, July 4, 2012

4. Detail on the Education Building

A crest with the Wisconsin state motto and the state animal, the badger, which is also the mascot of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Photographed by William J. Toman, June 17, 2010

5. Bascom Hill

The heart of the University of Wisconsin campus, with Bascom Hall at the top.

View from Bascom Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, June 17, 2010

6. View from Bascom Hall

The State Capitol as seen from the top of Bascom Hill. State Street links state government and the state university.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 987 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 4, 2012, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 5, 6. submitted on June 18, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.