Madison Museums

(Madison, Wisconsin - WI, USA)

Some of the best museums lying within Madison are to be found clustered around the Wisconsin State Capitol Square, meaning that it is easy to fill an entire day by hopping between the principal cultural attractions.

Standing to one side of the Wisconsin State Capitol Square and along West Mifflin Street is the award-winning Wisconsin Veterans Museum, which is dedicated to remembering and honoring those soldiers who fought for their state. In general, the period covered stretches from the American Civil War (1861 to 1865), right up to the more recent Persian Gulf War (1990 to 1991).

The Wisconsin Historical Society is based in Madison, with its headquarters being sited within the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. This is actually the oldest of all America's historical societies, since it was established in 1846. It works to preserve the state's history an owns a number of important buildings in prominent cities throughout the state, such as Baraboo, Belmont, Eagle, Mineral Point and Wisconsin Dells.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum

Address: 30 West Mifflin Street, Madison, Wisconsin (WI), 53703, USA
Tel: +1 608 267 1799
There are two main exhibition spaces at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, with the 19th-century gallery concentrating on the Civil War, complete with a realistic diorama showing the 1862 Battle of Antietam. The 20th-century gallery depicts the soldiers' roles in conflicts such as the Battle of Veracruz (1914), World War I (1914 to 1918), World War II (1939 to 1944), the Korean War (1950 to 1953) and the lengthy Vietnam War (1955 to 1975). There are three aircraft on exhibit, along with a Huey helicopter, various replicas and a wealth of militaria.
Open hours: October to March, Tuesday to Saturday - 09:00 to 16:30; April to September, Tuesday to Saturday - 09:00 to 16:30, Sunday - 12:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Madison Children's Museum

Address: 100 North Hamilton Street, Madison, Wisconsin (WI), 53703, USA
Tel: +1 608 256 6445
Located just a short stroll to the north of the Wisconsin State Capitol Square, the family themed Madison Children's Museum was established at the beginning of the 1980s and is to be found located on North Hamilton Street, next to North Pinckney Street. Recently relocated to a new, larger building, which was renovated at the cost of over US$10 million, the museum currently welcomes more than 150,000 visitors each year, who come to enjoy the hands-on activities and have fun while learning at the same time. The exhibits are grouped into a series of themed attractions, such as the Art Studio, the Community Concourse area and the Log Cabin, which recreates a typical early European home. The Rooftop Ramble offers seasonal activities in the rooftop garden, while Wildernest (part of the Evjue Early Learning Gallery) is a wonderland designed with young children in mind.
Open hours: September to May, Tuesday to Sunday - 09:30 to 17:00; June to August, daily - 09:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors, children under one year old are free

Wisconsin Historical Museum

Address: 30 North Carroll Street, Madison, Wisconsin (WI), 53703, USA
Tel: +1 608 264 6555
If you are interested in learning more about the city's past history and its earliest settlers, then the Wisconsin Historical Museum on North Carroll Street is the place to come. Managed by the Wisconsin Historical Society, this attraction is overflowing with important artifacts from yesteryear, with displays relating to Frontier Wisconsin in the 1800s, the People of the Woodlands and Making a Living. You can also find out about the state's more influential residents within the Wisconsin Innovations section, and learn about local labor laws at the Sense of Community exhibit. Collections cover subject matters such as anthropology, business and technology, domestic life, the military, politics and textiles.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 09:00 to 16:00
Admission: suggested donation, discounted suggested donation available for children

Geology Museum

Address: Weeks Hall, 1215 West Dayton Street, Madison, Wisconsin (WI), 53715, USA
Tel: +1 608 262 2399
This institution is to be found on the southern side of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, where it is housed in Weeks Hall. With its origins dating right back to the middle of the 19th century, the Geology Museum started its life as simply a small onsite collection of mineral samples and has grown to feature meteorites, fluorescent rocks and fossilized dinosaur skeletons. In particular, the Boaz Mastodon skeleton has been one of the prize exhibits here since 1915, while the Triceratops skull and model of a T-Rex skull are also crowd pleasers.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:30 to 16:30, Saturday - 09:00 to 13:00
Admission: free