Bascom Hill and Bascom Hall, Madison
Bascom Hill and Bascom Hall form the historic and symbolic heart of the University of Wisconsin鈥揗adison campus. Bascom Hill is a glacial drumlin鈥攁n ancient hill shaped some 18,000 years ago. Its broad, tree鈥憀ined lawn is surrounded by an array of architecturally diverse buildings that trace the university鈥檚 evolution from the mid鈥�19th century to the present.
At the summit stands Bascom Hall, originally built in 1859 as University Hall or 鈥淢ain Hall.鈥� Once topped by a majestic dome, the roof was destroyed in a fire on October 10, 1916, and the dome was never rebuilt. The building was renamed Bascom Hall in 1920 to honor former University of Wisconsin鈥揗adison president John Bascom. Over the decades, additions such as the north and south wings reshaped the fa莽ade, and today it houses the offices of the university chancellor and key administrators.
Fronting the hall is a statue of Abraham Lincoln, a frequent photo-op spot for graduating students who traditionally pose sitting on Honest Abe鈥檚 lap. On either side of the hill are the university鈥檚 two oldest buildings鈥擭orth Hall, built 1851, and South Hall, in 1855鈥攅ach still in use: North Hall houses the political science department while South Hall hosts administrative offices for the College of Letters & Science.
Beyond its architecture, Bascom Hill is steeped in student tradition and campus culture. In winter, the much鈥慳nticipated 鈥淏attle for Bascom鈥� snowball fight pits Lakeshore dorm residents against their Southeast counterparts in one of the city鈥檚 largest organized snowball battles. Another quirky tradition: each spring, fundraising lawn flamingos appear on the lawn, recalling a 1979 prank when over a thousand pink flamingos were planted on the hill during move鈥慽n day.
Today, Bascom Hill lies within the Bascom Hill Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places鈥攁 testament to its significance in education, architecture, and civic life since the university鈥檚 earliest days.
At the summit stands Bascom Hall, originally built in 1859 as University Hall or 鈥淢ain Hall.鈥� Once topped by a majestic dome, the roof was destroyed in a fire on October 10, 1916, and the dome was never rebuilt. The building was renamed Bascom Hall in 1920 to honor former University of Wisconsin鈥揗adison president John Bascom. Over the decades, additions such as the north and south wings reshaped the fa莽ade, and today it houses the offices of the university chancellor and key administrators.
Fronting the hall is a statue of Abraham Lincoln, a frequent photo-op spot for graduating students who traditionally pose sitting on Honest Abe鈥檚 lap. On either side of the hill are the university鈥檚 two oldest buildings鈥擭orth Hall, built 1851, and South Hall, in 1855鈥攅ach still in use: North Hall houses the political science department while South Hall hosts administrative offices for the College of Letters & Science.
Beyond its architecture, Bascom Hill is steeped in student tradition and campus culture. In winter, the much鈥慳nticipated 鈥淏attle for Bascom鈥� snowball fight pits Lakeshore dorm residents against their Southeast counterparts in one of the city鈥檚 largest organized snowball battles. Another quirky tradition: each spring, fundraising lawn flamingos appear on the lawn, recalling a 1979 prank when over a thousand pink flamingos were planted on the hill during move鈥慽n day.
Today, Bascom Hill lies within the Bascom Hill Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places鈥攁 testament to its significance in education, architecture, and civic life since the university鈥檚 earliest days.
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Bascom Hill and Bascom Hall on Map
Sight Name: Bascom Hill and Bascom Hall
Sight Location: Madison, USA (See walking tours in Madison)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Madison, USA (See walking tours in Madison)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Madison, Wisconsin
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles