State Historical Society

Style: Neoclassical
City: Madison, WI

The State Historical Society building stands at 816 State Street on Madison's isthmus, a monumental Neoclassical civic building designed by the Milwaukee firm Ferry & Clas. Completed in 1900, it was the most expensive building the state had built to that point. It now houses one of the largest historical research libraries in the United States.

the building

Colonnaded facade. A grand colonnaded limestone facade anchors the head of State Street, facing the Capitol — one of Madison's grandest examples of the Neoclassical style.

the style

Executed in a monumental Neoclassical idiom, with a colonnaded limestone facade that ranks among Madison's grandest examples of the style.

the architect

Designed by Ferry & Clas of Milwaukee, a firm documented as the architect behind several major Wisconsin civic buildings.

significance

Individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the State Register of Historic Places at 816 State Street. Completed in 1900 as the most expensive building the state had built to that point.

nearby

Memorial Union 390 ft · Renaissance Revival
University of Wisconsin Armory and Gymnasium 400 ft · Romanesque Revival · 1894
University of Wisconsin Science Hall 460 ft · Romanesque Revival · 1887
North Hall 0.2 mi · Greek Revival · 1851
Judge Arthur B. Braley House 0.4 mi · Gothic Revival · 1875
John J. Suhr House 0.5 mi · Second Empire · 1902

All 33 buildings in Madison