First Capitol
The Birthplace of Wisconsin Territorial Government
The lodging house at First Capitol
Take a drive through the picturesque hamlet of Belmont to First
Capitol for a firsthand look at where a hardy group of
fledgling legislators founded territorial Wisconsin's
government. Modest frame buildings today stand sentinel where these
first lawmakers huddled in the cold in the fall and winter
of 1836 to build the framework of law and order that
would evolve into the state of Wisconsin 12 years later. They met
for 46 days, put 42 laws on the books, established a judicial system,
called for roads and railroads, and — most
significantly — established
Madison as the permanent capital city. You'll come away
with a keener sense of Wisconsin's rugged origins.
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