About the Event
Select Thursdays | 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
April 24, May 1, May 15, May 29, July 17, July 31, Aug. 14, Sept. 11, Sept. 25, 2025
Select Saturdays | 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
April 26, May 3, May 17, May 31, July 19, Aug. 2, Aug. 16, Sept. 13, Sept. 27, 2025
Cost
Adult (18–64): $20
Teen (13–17): $20
Senior (65+): $20
Children (5–12): $20
Children Under 5: Free
Advance registration required.
Society members receive a 10% discount. Please verify your membership where prompted to receive the discount at checkout.
Overview
Discover the rich history and untold stories of Wisconsin’s capital city as you journey through the streets of downtown Madison. Explore the historic Capitol Square and visit the former site of the American House, a modest hotel where state officials stayed during Madison’s earliest legislative sessions. Stop by the Argus Bar, a modern establishment housed in one of Madison’s oldest surviving commercial buildings—a building that was once home to the Argus newspaper.
Throughout the tour, your guide will discuss the various ways that generations of residents have viewed and shaped the landscape, revealing the many layers of our capital’s past—from its earliest inhabitants to its emergence and establishment as a thriving, modern city.
This beloved annual walking tour, now returning after a brief hiatus, runs from spring through early fall, with scheduled dates on both Thursdays and Saturdays. Reserve your spot today.
About the Location
An active, community-focused space that hosts school groups, pop-up exhibits, author talks, public programs, and more; located in the US Bank Building on Madison's Capitol Square.
History Maker Space
1 S. Pinckney Street
Madison, WI 53703
Know Before You Go
General Information
The tour is based out of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s History Maker Space, but will take place throughout the community at multiple locations.
The starting and ending point is in front of the U.S. Bank Plaza building, facing the Wisconsin State Capitol. Check in with a WHS staff member on arrival.
The guided tour is approximately 1.3 miles and includes some hilly, paved terrain. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Participants should bring water, sunglasses, and a hat, as the tour is entirely outdoors with limited shade.
Tours run rain or shine. Please bring an umbrella in case of inclement weather.
Parking
Thursdays: Do not park in the U.S. Bank Plaza underground garage. It closes after 6 p.m. and reopens the next morning.
Saturdays: The underground garage is closed.
Alternative parking is available downtown. Capitol Square North Garage (218 E. Mifflin St.) is two blocks from the tour start/end. Street parking info is available on the City of Madison website.
For questions about tour content or mobility accommodations, contact Jenny Pederson at jennifer.pederson@wisconsinhistory.org or (608) 669-5160.
Contact
For more information, contact the box office at (608) 264-4848 or boxoffice@wisconsinhistory.org.
