First Capitol

02/18/2026

Do you or someone you know love history? Want to work at a place spanning over a hundred and fifty years of Wisconsin’s history? Are you in the Belmont area?

Apply for a summer job with the Wisconsin Historical Society at First Capitol! Help guide guests through the buildings and grounds and experience first hand all the awesome events put on at the site. Apply online, add your resume with your experience--even if it’s only a little--and we will get in touch with you! No experience necessary! We would be happy to have you!

https://wihist.org/FC

02/09/2026

Are you looking for a job where you get to work with history every day? Stonefield Historic Site is hiring a full-time Facilities Management Specialist. See post for details!

Do you love Stonefield and want to work close with history every day? We are hiring for our Facilities Management Specialist, full-time position. This position performs a wide range of custodial, repair, grounds keeping, restoration, rehabilitation, utility system maintenance, and minor construction activities at Stonefield Historic Site. All applications must be submitted online using the provided link, the position closes on February 23.

https://wihist.org/FMSPosting

12/18/2025

Yesterday First Capitol and Wisconsin Historical Society facilities staff went to the state capitol building to represent the site at the State Building Commission meeting. The Commission approved a $2.6 million restoration project of the First Capitol site.

Project design will continue to move forward through the spring and restoration work will start sometime in early summer 2026. All restoration work will follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

We are grateful to all those who have worked to move this project forward to ensure preservation of this important historical asset in Wisconsin's history! Follow along for more updates as we continue this project.

10/10/2025

We had a lot of fun with the Hawk A Model A Ford Club this morning at First Capitol! The group visited us as part of their driving tour of the area. Thanks to the club for the great visit!

Call 608.987.2122 or email us at [email protected] to book your private group tour.

10/07/2025

We recently had a visit by the Lincoln Zephyr Owners Club to First Capitol! This group arrived in their amazing cars for a private group tour on a great fall day.

Want to bring your group tour to First Capitol? Send us a message to [email protected] or give us a call at 608-987-2122.

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July! Visit us from 10am - 4pm today!

On this day in 1836, Wisconsin became a territory, including all of present day Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, and the eastern halves of the Dakotas. The government would first meet at here at Belmont a few months later.

07/03/2025

A reminder that we are open tomorrow Friday, July 4th! Join us in exploring Wisconsin's territorial beginnings from 10am - 4pm.

06/27/2025

We are open Friday, July 4th! Spend the holiday exploring Wisconsin's territorial beginnings with us from 10am - 4pm.

05/29/2025

Come celebrate the origins of our great state at First Capitol. We are open again this weekend, Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 4pm. We look forward to seeing you soon!

05/24/2025

We are open for the 2025 season!

Come visit us in Belmont every weekend plus the Fourth of July though Labor Day weekend. Saturdays and Sundays 10am - 4pm.

05/23/2025

Did you catch us on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel? Click on the link below to read about us, then visit us starting this weekend!

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2025/05/13/belmont-wisconsin-first-capital-madison/79092369007/

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2025/05/13/wisconsin-four-capitols-stories-fifth-in-iowa/83144946007/?tbref=hp

First Capitol opens for the 2025 season Saturday, May 24 from 10am - 4pm. We are open weekends through Labor Day weekend.

05/15/2025

Today First Capitol had a visit from the Highland Elementary 3rd and 4th graders! Students learned from tour guide Glenn all about Governor Dodge and the laws created on site in 1836, including the decision to make Madison the capital of Wisconsin.

Students got to propose and vote on where they would like the Wisconsin state capital to be located, just like legislators in 1836. Here is how they voted:

Highland - 11
Platteville - 11
Madison - 5
Dodgeville - 4
Livingston - 0

Governor Dodge had to break the tie with Highland winning the vote!