Haunted History of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison
The Wisconsin State Capitol is one of Madison’s most iconic landmarks. Standing tall over the city since 1917, it’s not just the home of state government, it’s a building steeped in history, tragedy, and spine-tingling ghost stories. As the owner of American Ghost Walks, this was one of the first buildings I researched when developing our Madison route and the Capitol’s haunted past is one of my favorite tales that we tell on our Madison ghost tours.
A Brief History of the Capitol
Wisconsin’s first territorial legislature met in Belmont back in 1836, but Madison was soon chosen as the permanent capital. The first Capitol building went up in 1837 right where today’s structure stands. That first building was drafty, poorly built, and quickly outgrown.
By 1859, a second, more elaborate Capitol replaced it. Unfortunately, in 1904, a devastating fire destroyed the third version of the building, wiping out priceless historical documents and even the preserved remains of Old Abe, Wisconsin’s famous Civil War eagle. Construction on the current Capitol began in 1906, and the grand Beaux-Arts-style building we know today was completed in 1917. Its dome is still the largest by volume in the U.S., dominating Madison’s skyline.
Ghost Stories of the Wisconsin State Capitol
Like many old buildings with a tragic past, the Wisconsin State Capitol has its fair share of ghostly legends. Over the years, visitors, staff, and even security guards have reported eerie happenings—cold spots, strange noises, and unexplained apparitions. Here are some of the stories we share on our Madison haunted history tours:
The Ghost Soldier in the Assembly Chamber
One of the most famous Capitol legends centers on a mural in the Assembly chamber. The painting, done by Edwin Blashfield, originally depicted a Civil War soldier. Later, the soldier was painted over with a badger to better fit Wisconsin’s state symbol. Over time, the faint image of the soldier seemed to reappear, giving rise to the legend of the “Ghost of the Assembly.” Not a real ghost story but a little fun piece of trivia.
The Friendly Ghost of Frank Smith
Local lore tells the story of Frank Smith, a steelworker who died during the construction of the current Capitol after falling in the rotunda. His spirit is said to be a friendly presence, occasionally spotted near the spiral staircase that leads up to the dome. Whether or not Frank ever truly existed, his story has become one of Madison’s best-known Capitol ghost legends.
When I was walking through the Capitol and taking pictures I jokingly talked to the worker standing by the stairs to the observation deck that that's where they see the ghost and he just says "Yep." And then I immediately asked him if he'd ever seen him and he just says "Yep" nonchalantly. He says that Frank mostly appears at the top of the stairs above the entrance to the deck, but you can't get to the top without a key since that area is fenced off. He says that you'll see what looks like a person walking around at the top and they'll hear him when there's nobody there.
Deadly Tragedies in the Capitol’s Past
Long before the 1904 fire destroyed the old Capitol, Madison witnessed an even deadlier disaster that left a dark mark on the building’s history. On November 8, 1883, during the construction of a new south wing on the third Capitol building, defective materials and shoddy workmanship caused the nearly finished structure to collapse without warning. The deafening crash killed six workers and injured twenty more, sending a massive cloud of dust over downtown Madison. A young schoolboy named Frank Lloyd Wright, years before he became a world-famous architect, was among the horrified witnesses who later recalled the scene in his autobiography. With no hospitals in the city at the time, the wounded were carried to government offices or their own homes. The gruesome sight of crushed timbers, twisted beams, and trapped men crying out for help haunted Madisonians for years afterward. The tragedy sparked a public investigation that revealed dangerous construction shortcuts, and some say the spirits of the men who died that day never truly left the grounds of the Capitol. Particularly on the 4th floor of the South Wing is where unexplained footsteps and voices are often attributed to these lost workers
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The Wisconsin State Capitol isn’t just a political landmark, it’s a place where history and hauntings intertwine. On our Madison Ghost Walks, we bring these stories to life, sharing both the fascinating history of the building and the eerie tales that make it one of the most haunted locations in the city.
If you’re a fan of haunted history, true ghost stories, or just want to experience a different side of Madison, join us for a night of spine-chilling storytelling. The Capitol’s ghostly legends are just the beginning.
