Madison Wisconsin: More than Badgers and Beer
The vast state of Wisconsin will remain largely unexplored for now, but we did make it to Madison for a couple of lovely days. Sunshine, rain and thundershowers, birds, mosquitos, rivers and lakes certainly made an impression, but our visits to the University and the State Capitol were a real treat.
The University has a rich and vibrant history, known for academic excellence, research and the “Wisconsin Idea.” This idea is the value of the university , that education and research are to improve people’s lives beyond the classroom and is tied to the progressive politics of the early 20th century and Fighting Bob La Follette, Governor and US Senator who believed in women’s right to vote, education for all, and oversight into Companies treatment of workers.
The campus is 933 acres of elegant buildings, public art, natural beauty, students from all over the world, and the Memorial Union Terrace.
This lake front terrace is definitely one of the places to visit in Madison. In the summer there are concerts and films on the lake, scholarly talks and presentations happen here, and there are kayaks and canoes for rent. The tables and chairs are painted bright green, orange, yellow and red, and it is the perfect place to sit and snack, eat lunch, sip a Badgers Club beer, and people watch.
We took a tour of the Capitol and learned history as well as saw areas we might not have otherwise seen. The Wisconsinites are extremely proud of their capitol and their history, and for good reason. The building is the third one, as the first was demolished, and the second burned down. To avoid such catastrophes, this one is built with stone and marble from all over the world and the US. The Dome is the 10th highest in the US, and the local stone used for the steps and the walls even contain fossils for geology and archeology buffs!
Although visually stunning and historically significant, my take always were more sociological and political: Wisconsin has the most female Supreme Court justices, with 6 out of 7. Wisconsin senators and assembly members must vote yes or no. They cannot abstain or just vote present. The capitol building is deliberately an open building to allow public access: no metal detectors, no passing through security. Finally, the capitol building is a free speech zone. As long as people do not post vulgarity, anyone can post information.
Today there was an easel with tear away notes protesting The scurrilous behavior of out of state Republicans and Scott Walker. Fascinating. I have included the posted note for your review. Go Wisconsin!
