National Register Listings in
Dane County, Wisconsin

Agricultural Chemistry Building Agricultural Dean's House Agricultural Engineering Building Agricultural Heating station Agriculture Hall American Exchange Bank American Tobacco Company Warehouses Complex Ames, Francis Marian, Farmstead Badger State Shoe Company Bascom Hill Historic District Bashford, Robert M., House Baskerville Apartment Building Bedrud-Olson Farmstead Belleville Illinois Central Railroad Depot Bellevue Apartment Building Belmont Hotel Bernard-Hoover Boathouse Biederstaedt Grocery Bowen, James B., House Bradley, Harold C., House Braley, Judge Arthur B., House Brittingham Park Boathouse Brown-Sewell House Cambridge Public School and High School Camp Randall Cardinal Hotel Chase Grain Elevator City Market Clarke, Bascom B., House Cold, Jens and Ingeborg, House College Hills Historic District Collins, William, House Commons, John R., House Coolidge Street-Myrtle Street Historic District Crosse, Dr. Charles G., House Curtis-Kittleson House Cutter, Judson C., House Dahle, Henry L. and Sarah, House Dahle, Herman B. and Anne Marie, House Dahle, Onon B. and Betsy, House Dean, Nathaniel W., House Dick, Christian, Block Donald, John Sweet, Farmstead Dowling Apartment Building Drohman Cabin Dunlap, Adam, Farmstead Dunroven House East Dayton Street Historic District East End Historic District East Park Historic District East Side Historic District East Wilson Street Historic District Eggiman, Ernest, House Elliott, Edward C., House Ely, Richard T., House Fess Hotel Fire Station No. 4 First Church of Christ Scientist First Lutheran Church First National Bank First Unitarian Society Meetinghouse Forest Products Laboratory Fourth Lake Ridge Historic District Fox Hall Frey School Fritz, John, Farmstead Fuhremann Canning Company Factory Garver's Supply Company Factory and Office Gilbert, John and Flora, House Gilmore, Eugene A., House Grace Episcopal Church Graves, Sereno W., House Gray, Philip H. and Margaret, House Grimm Book Bindery Haight, Nicholas, Farmstead Hall, Samuel, House Hauge Log Church Heidelberger, Dr. Charles and Judith, House Heiney's Meat Market Henry Mall Historic District Hiram Smith Hall and Annex Hirsig, Louis, House Hoff Department Store Holy Name Seminary Horticulture and Agricultural Physics and Soil Science Building Hotel Loraine Hoyt, Frank W., Park Hunt,Samuel, House Hyer's Hotel Ingebretson, Gaute, Loft House Iverson-Johnson House Jackman Building Jacobs, Herbert A., House Jacobs, Herbert and Katherine, First House Jacobs, Herbert and Katherine, Second House Jacobs, Herbert, Second House Jenifer-Spaight Historic District Jensvold, Gulbrand and Bertha, House Kayser, Adolph H., House Kehl Winery Kemp, John and Margarethe, Cabin King Street Arcade Klueter and Company Wholesale Grocery Warehouse Kohlmann, Friederich, House LaFollette, Robert M., House Lake View Sanatorium Lamb Building Lamp, Robert M., House Langdon Street Historic District Larson, August Cornelius, House Lathrop Hall Leitch, William T., House Leonard, William Ellery, House Library Park Lie, Aslak, Cabin Lincoln School Lincoln Street Historic District Little Norway Lockwood Barn Longfellow School Lougee, George A., House Luther Memorial Church Machinery Row Madison Brass Works Madison Candy Company Madison Gas and Electric Company Powerhouse Madison Masonic Temple Madison Vocational School Madison Waterworks Main Street Historic District Mann, John, House Mansion Hill Historic District Maple Bluff Boy Scout Cabin Marquette Bungalows Historic District Mazomanie Downtown Historic District Mazomanie Town Hall McCarthy, Timothy C. and Katherine, House McCormick-International Harvester Company Branch House McCoy Farmhouse McFarland House Middleton Depot, Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad Miller House Mills, Simeon, House Mount Horeb Public School Mt. Horeb Opera Block Naeset, Jens, House Nakoma Historic District North Hall, University of Wisconsin Northwest Side Historic District Old Executive Mansion Old Spring Tavern Old Synagogue Old U.S. Forest Products Laboratory Oregon High School Oregon Masonic Lodge Oregon Water Tower and Pump House Orpheum Theater Orton Park Orton Park Historic District Ott, John George, House Outlet Mound Paoli Mills Pierce, Carrie, House Plough Inn Pond, Daniel, Farmhouse Quisling Towers Apartments Roe, Ole K., House Rowley, Dr. Newman C., House Rutland United Brethren in Christ Meeting House and Cemetery Schumann, Frederick, Farmstead Sherman Avenue Historic District Shorewood Historic District Simeon Mills Historic District Skindrud, Eric and Jerome, Farm Smith, Adam and Mary, House South Main Street Historic District South School Southwest Side Historic District St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church State Historical Society of Wisconsin State Office Building Steensland, Halle, House Steinle Turret Machine Company Stevens, Breese, Municipal Athletic Field Stock Pavilion Stoner, Joseph J., House Stoughton High School Stoughton Main Street Commercial Historic District Stoughton Main Street Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase) Stoughton Universalist Church Suhr, John J., House Sun Prairie Downtown Historic District Sun Prairie Water Tower Sunset Hills Historic District Sylvan Avenue - Ridge Road Historic District Tenney Building Tenney Park-Yahara River Parkway Thompson's Block Thorstrand Tompkins-Brindler Mound Group United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse University Heights Historic District University Hill Farms Historic District University of Wisconsin Arboretum University of Wisconsin Arboretum University of Wisconsin Armory and Gymnasium University of Wisconsin Dairy Barn University of Wisconsin Field House University of Wisconsin Memorial Union University of Wisconsin Science Hall University Presbyterian Church and Student Center Wakeley-Giles Commercial Building Washburn Observatory and Observatory Director's Residence Waubesa School Waunakee Railroad Depot West Lawn Heights Historic District West Madison Depot, Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway West School Wiedenbeck-Dobelin Warehouse Wingra Park Historic District Wisconsin Heights Battlefield Wisconsin Industrial School for Girls Wisconsin Memorial Hospital Historic District Wisconsin State Capitol Wisconsin Wagon Company Factory
The deadliest tornado in Wisconsin's history occurred on May 18, 1883, when a tornado swept through the town of Rochester, killing 117 people and injuring more than 200 others.
Dane County, Wisconsin, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. Before European settlers arrived, the area was inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) and the Menominee. These tribes relied on hunting, fishing, and farming for their livelihoods and had established communities in the region.

In the early 1800s, European settlers began to arrive in what is now Dane County. The first permanent settlement was established in the present-day city of Madison in 1829 by James Duane Doty, who would later become the first territorial governor of Wisconsin. Doty selected the location for its strategic position between the Four Lakes region and the established lead mining communities to the southwest.

In 1836, the Wisconsin Territory was created, and the territorial capital was moved from Belmont to Madison, making it the center of government for the region. The construction of the Wisconsin State Capitol building began in 1837, solidifying Madison's status as the capital of the newly formed state of Wisconsin in 1848.

Throughout the 19th century, Dane County experienced significant growth and development. The construction of railroads in the mid-1800s brought increased transportation and commerce to the region. Agriculture, particularly dairy farming, became a major industry, and the county became known for its production of milk and cheese.

In the 20th century, Dane County continued to grow as the University of Wisconsin-Madison became a prominent educational institution and the state's flagship university. The county also became a center for government, healthcare, and technology, with the establishment of government agencies, hospitals, and tech companies. Today, Dane County is known for its vibrant culture, beautiful natural landscapes, and thriving economy.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Dane County, Wisconsin.

  • 1836: Dane County is established and named after Nathan Dane, a Massachusetts lawyer.
  • 1848: Wisconsin becomes a state, with Madison selected as the capital of both the state and Dane County.
  • 1850s: Railroads are built in the county, leading to increased trade and economic growth.
  • 1861-1865: Many residents from Dane County serve in the Civil War.
  • 1870s: The University of Wisconsin-Madison is established, becoming a major educational institution in the county.
  • 1880s: Urbanization and industrialization lead to the growth of Madison's economy.
  • 1930s: The Great Depression hits Dane County and the rest of the United States, causing significant economic hardships.
  • 1950s-1970s: Urban growth, suburbanization, and the expansion of the University of Wisconsin-Madison contribute to the county's population growth.
  • 1992: Construction of the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison is completed.
  • 2000s: Dane County experiences steady population growth and becomes known for its vibrant arts, culture, and outdoor recreational opportunities.