First Capitol & Wisconsin Territory 1836

Southwest Wisconsin was a political hub in the 1830s, when Wisconsin transitioned from a territory to a state. The first governor of the Wisconsin Territory (in 1836), Henry Dodge, was from nearby Mineral Point, and the first official governor of the state of Wisconsin (in 1848) was Nelson Dewey of Cassville. The Legislative Assembly, under the direction of Gov. Henry Dodge, held session at the first state capitol in Belmont from Oct. 25-Dec. 9, 1836, a total of 46 days.

They passed 42 acts that shaped the government of the Wisconsin Territory, and later the state. The largest debate surrounded the permanent location for the territory’s capitol to be located further from the Iowa Territory border, to ensure that the capitol would still be in Wisconsin after the Iowa Territory separated from the Wisconsin Territory two years later. Eventually Madison was chosen as the new location for the state’s capitol.

After the capitol moved, the buildings were abandoned and fell into disrepair. In the early 1900s, restoration efforts began and the First Capitol became a Wisconsin Historical Society site in 1994.

Stop by the buildings at 18904 Cty. Hwy. G, northwest of Belmont, although you might want to wait until the snow melts. Tours are available seasonally, May-October. More details can be found at www.firstcapitol.org.

Also check out nearby attractions such as Belmont Mound State Park, the World’s Largest ‘M’, The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums, Rustic Road No. 75, Pendarvis Historic Site, Mineral Point Railroad Museum and Shullsburg Badger Mining Museum.