First Capitol - Leslie, WI
N 42° 46.107 W 090° 21.752
15T E 715787 N 4738475
In 1836, this building was home to the first session of the Territory of Wisconsin Legislature. It is located on Hwy G near Hwy B in Leslie, WI.
Waymark Code: WM5J1Q
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 01/11/2009
Views: 12
The marker reads:
"BELMONT
WISCONSIN TERRITORY
1836
When Governor Henry Dodge addressed the joint session of the Legislature here on October 25, 1836, the Territory of Wisconsin included all of the present day Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and part of the two Dakotas. The population was about equally divided east and west of the Mississippi. There was so much criticism of Gov. Dodge's choice of Belmont as the Territorial Capital that he immediately offered to accept any location decided upon by a majority of the representatives. A bitter contest developed with the Dubuque and Burlington (Iowa) delegations finally joining the Eastern Wisconsin group to move the capital for one year to Burlington and thence permanently to Madison. The briefly booming village of Belmont quickly declined. When the railroad by-passed it about two miles to the southeast many of the residents moved their buildings to "new" Belmont.
Erected 1957"
The marker reads:
"GOVERNOR TOMMY G. THOMPSON'S 1998 ADDRESS AT WISCONSIN'S FIRST CAPITOL
On January 14, 1998, Governor Tommy G. Thompson addressed the Wisconsin Assembly at Wisconsin's First Territorial Capitol in Belmont in honor of the Sesquicentennial of Statehood. Serving more terms than any other governor in the history of Wisconsin, Governor Thompson addressed the ninety-nine member Assembly noting that this was the second time he had been part of governmental proceedings at Belmont. In 1991, he convened a cabinet meeting at the First Capitol. Dressed in period clothing and arriving by carriage on this cold January day, Governor Thompson lauded the historic leadership of the people of Wisconsin, in endeavors such as auto racing, milk-testing, conservation, education, anti-discrimination laws, social reform, and entertainment---and remarked that Wisconsinites invented the outboard motor, the typewriter, the hamburger, and malted milk. The Governor concluded by praising Wisconsin's outstanding efforts in the nation's wars and declaring a new era of Wisconsin leadership. "Our role is neither to lead people to water nor to make them drink, but rather to make them thirsty. And may the people of Wisconsin's thirst to be the leaders of this great nation never be quenched."
Erected 2000"
Street address:
Hwy G and Hwy B
Leslie, WI USA
53510
County / Borough / Parish: Lafayette
Year listed: 1970
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event: Politics/Government
Periods of significance: 1825-1849
Historic function: Government: Capitol
Current function: Recreation and Culture: Museum
Hours of operation: From: 9:00 AM To: 5:00 PM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Privately owned?: Not Listed
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.