Thursday, April 9, 2015

Your Beautiful Backyard! Exploring Madison, WI

We love to travel! We also love history so are thrilled to take time to explore new cities and their stories. Recently, we had a chance to do that here in our own community of Madison,WI. Taking some time out of a Saturday afternoon, we found ourselves in the heart of our downtown.

The Capital Theater opened it's doors in 1928 as one of the opulent Movie Houses of the Silent era.
It served Madison for decades entertaining the community and becoming a haven for Concerts!
 Looking out of the 2nd floor window of The Overture Center for the Arts, you have a lovely view of the State Capital! The glass has a quality that makes it clear even from the outside and is stunning.


In the mid 1990's the building was showing it's age. The city had funded much improvement with the help of local business, Oscar Mayer, but it needed more.


In came local businessman, Jerry Frautschi with the largest single gift to the arts in American history to date.


Overture Hall is one of five performance spaces in the building.
Touring Companies from all over the world perform here and the Organ is a true treasure.
 My friend, Dawn was our tour guide and I was fasinated to learn of all the references to our lakes in design. Lighting here designed to appear as waves! Curves in structure like the movement of water.  Beautiful...            

 The Orpheum Theater is directly across the street on State St. It was build in 1926 and was the first building in WI to have air-conditioning! Build in the Art Deco style of the age, it stands today as a restored live performance and musical theater.
So, what are you doing this week-end? Can you enjoy being a tourist in your own hometown? You may find history just a footstep away you walk past daily!!  Enjoy,  Valorie  xx