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Property Location
| Location (Address) | BASCOM HILL, UW-MADISON |
|---|---|
| County | Dane |
| City/Village | Madison |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1879 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 1974 |
| Historic Use | library |
| Architectural Style | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Stone - Unspecified |
| Architect | David R. Jones |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments |
A 'site file' (Bascom Hill Historic District) exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. Assembly Hall and Library is contributing to the Bascom Hill Historic District, NR listed 1974, NRIS #: 74000065 "A church-like edifice, Music Hall, was designed by D. R. Jones, a Madison architect. Originally known as Assembly Hall, it was built in 1879 for $40,000. It was used for all departments and housed the University Library. Its auditorium housed lectures, plays, recitals, operas, and concerts. It was here that the celebrated "Wild Bill" Kiekhofer introduced many generations of sophomores to the mysteries of economics. Music Hall once was home for the School of Music, established in 1894, which has now moved to larger quarters in the Humanities Building. Opera productions, including many new and rarely-staged old operas, have been performed in the hall since the early 1960s. Renovation of the auditorium, with a grant from the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation through the UW Foundation, was completed in October 1985. Music Hall also houses Urban and Regional Planning. The two-story Victorian Gothic structure, with its steep roof, incorporated detail by inlay-ed red stone on sandstone over doors and windows rather than the traditional carved tracery. Though only two remain, all of the large arched windows were once stained glass with "secular interpretations." The clock tower, with its four outside dials, keeps accurate time (originally through an elaborate system utilizing a telegraph line linking it to Washburn Observatory) and chimes on the hour." University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison Tour Guide, 1988. |
| Bibliographic References | University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison Tour Guide, 1988. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Bascom Hill Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Sep 12, 1974 |
| State Register Listing Date | Jan 01, 1989 |
| Contributing | Yes |
| Additional Documentation | Jan 23, 2013 |
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
Questions?
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Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
Bounded by Observatory Dr., University Ave., and N. Park, Langdon, and State Sts.
74000065
Located in Madison, Dane County
Bascom Hill, UW Campus, Madison
1880
Drawing of University Hall by D.C. Salisbury showing the view from the bottom, south side of the hill on the University of Wisconsin campus. Bascom Hall, built in 1859, was originally called Unive...
