University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison)
Why Walk University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus
UW-Madison's campus stretches across the isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. Bascom Hill, a steep slope leading up to Bascom Hall (1857), is the symbolic heart of campus — Abraham Lincoln's statue sits at the top. The Memorial Union Terrace, right on the shore of Lake Mendota, is one of the most beloved college gathering spots in America, with its signature sunburst chairs and sunset views. The Chazen Museum of Art houses over 20,000 works. The Engineering Campus clusters around Engineering Hall on the west side. Camp Randall Stadium, on the site of a Civil War training camp, seats over 80,000 for Badger football and the famous 'Jump Around' tradition.
About University of Wisconsin-Madison
Founded
Founded in 1848, the same year Wisconsin achieved statehood. It is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System.
Type
Public land-grant research university, designated under the Morrill Act. It is a member of the Association of American Universities and competes in the Big Ten Conference.
Setting
Campus in Madison, the Wisconsin state capital, set on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. The central campus runs along Lake Mendota's southern shore, with Bascom Hill rising above State Street, the pedestrian street linking campus to the State Capitol.
Enrollment
Roughly 50,000 total students, with about 37,000 undergraduates and the remainder in graduate and professional programs.
Mascot
Bucky Badger, an anthropomorphic badger; the teams are the Wisconsin Badgers. School colors are cardinal red and white.
Free University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free University of Wisconsin-Madison campus tour with audio narration. Explore Bascom Hill, Memorial Union Terrace, Chazen Museum of Art, plus hidden spots like Allen Centennial Garden and Washburn Observatory, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
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Must-See Spots at University of Wisconsin-Madison
- •Bascom Hill — the steep climb to Bascom Hall past the Abraham Lincoln statue, with views of Lake Mendota from the top
- •Memorial Union Terrace — lakeside chairs with sunset views over Lake Mendota, one of the most iconic college gathering spots in America
- •Chazen Museum of Art — a 4,334-work art collection in a building designed by Cesar Pelli, spanning ancient to contemporary art
- •Camp Randall Stadium — an 80,000-seat stadium on the site of a Civil War training camp, famous for the 'Jump Around' tradition between the third and fourth quarters
Signature Architecture
- •Bascom Hall — Sits atop Bascom Hill; the original building dates to 1859. It once had a dome that was destroyed by fire in 1916 and never rebuilt. A statue of Abraham Lincoln sits in front.
- •Memorial Union — Opened in 1928, designed by university architect Arthur Peabody in an Italian Renaissance style. Home to the lakeside Memorial Union Terrace with its iconic sunburst chairs facing Lake Mendota.
- •Camp Randall Stadium — Football stadium dating to 1917, built on the site of a Civil War training camp. Capacity is roughly 76,000, making it one of the oldest stadiums in college football.
- •Wisconsin Historical Society building — Completed in 1900 on Library Mall, a Beaux-Arts structure housing one of the largest historical libraries in North America.
- •Washburn Observatory — Built in 1881 on the Lake Mendota shore; it offers free public viewing nights on clear evenings during the academic year.
Hidden Corners of University of Wisconsin-Madison
- •Allen Centennial Garden — a 2.5-acre botanical garden on the hill above Agricultural Hall with themed garden rooms and a Victorian gazebo
- •Washburn Observatory — an 1882 observatory atop Observatory Hill still used for public stargazing nights with its original 15.6-inch refractor telescope
Notable Alumni
- •John Muir, naturalist and Sierra Club co-founder (attended, did not graduate)
- •Frank Lloyd Wright, architect (attended, did not graduate)
- •Charles Lindbergh, aviator (attended, did not graduate)
- •Eudora Welty, author
- •Greta Van Susteren, broadcast journalist
- •Joan Cusack, actress
Campus Traditions
- •Jump Around: the Camp Randall crowd jumps in unison to House of Pain's song between the third and fourth quarters of football games
- •Gathering at the Memorial Union Terrace, the lakeside spot with sunburst chairs and Babcock Hall ice cream
- •Babcock Hall Dairy Store ice cream, made on campus by the Department of Food Science
- •Mifflin Street Block Party, a long-running spring student street party near campus
- •Homecoming week, including a parade and football game
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •State Street restaurants and food carts along the pedestrian strip running from campus to the Capitol
- •Babcock Hall Dairy Store for university-made ice cream and cheese
- •The Plaza Tavern on Henry Street, known for its Plazaburger
- •Ian's Pizza on State Street, famous for mac-and-cheese pizza slices
- •Memorial Union Terrace for lakeside brats, beer, and snacks
Did you know? The process that fortifies milk with vitamin D worldwide was developed at UW-Madison by biochemist Harry Steenbock in the 1920s. He patented it and used the royalties to help found the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), which still funds university research today.
Visiting University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Office of Admissions offers free campus visits including information sessions and student-led walking tours; register in advance through admissions.wisc.edu, as tours fill up. Self-guided tour maps are available for drop-in visitors. Visitor parking is limited on the dense isthmus campus; the Lake Street, Grainger, and Union South ramps are the main public garages, and metered street parking is enforced. The Memorial Union and its Terrace are open to the public year-round.
Walking Tip
Start at the bottom of Bascom Hill on State Street, climb to the Lincoln statue for the lake view, then walk to the Memorial Union Terrace for sunset. State Street connects campus to the Capitol with shops and restaurants.
Best Time to Visit
Fall for football weekends and foliage reflected in the lakes. Summer for the Terrace at sunset. Spring for the campus emerging from winter. Madison winters are cold but the campus is beautiful in snow.
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