Bascom Hill Historic District | |
 Modern Bascom Hall atop Bascom Hill | |
   | |
| Location | Bounded by Observatory Dr., University Ave., and N. Park, Langdon, and State Sts. Madison, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Built | 1849 |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000065 [1] |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 1974 |
Bascom Hill is the iconic main quadrangle that forms the historic core of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. It is located on the opposite end of State Street from the Wisconsin State Capitol, and is named after John Bascom, former president of the University of Wisconsin.[2]
The hill is crowned by Bascom Hall, the main administration building for the campus. Near the main entrance to Bascom Hall sits a statue of President Abraham Lincoln. The first university building, North Hall, was constructed on Bascom Hill in 1851 and is still in use by the Department of Political Science. The second building, South Hall, was built in 1855 and is now used by the administration of the University of Wisconsin College of Letters and Science.
In 1974 the area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Bascom Hill Historic District. In addition to the main quadrangle, the district includes historic buildings ranging from the Red Gym to the Wisconsin Historical Society building to the Carillon Tower. The NRHP nomination considers the district "the most historic cluster of institutional buildings in Wisconsin."[3]
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 15, 2006.
- ^ "How has Bascom Hall changed over time?". Ask Flamingle. Wisconsin Alumni Association. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ^ Jeffrey M. Dean (June 1974), National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Bascom Hill Historic District, National Park Service, retrieved December 31, 2021 With 13 photos.