The Madison Club Wedding Venue Guide

If you’re looking for a high-end and luxurious wedding venue, Wisconsin Historical Society is perfect for you! Featuring exclusive club access, award-winning food, and a beautiful reception space, this venue is one of the best to host your celebration. Explore this post for your ultimate Wisconsin Historical Society Wedding Venue Guide!

Location

How to get to Wisconsin Historical Society

Steps away from the Memorial Union and Lake Mendota, the Wisconsin Historical Society is located on the University of Wisconsin Madison campus at 816 State St, Madison, WI 53706. The main entrance is accessible via walking to the Library Mall.

From the East: Head southwest on US-151 S/East Washington Avenue for half a mile. Turn right onto E Johnson Street and continue for almost 2 miles. Turn right onto Wisconsin Avenue. At the next light turn left onto Langdon Street. The Wisconsin Historical Society will be on your left in .6 miles.
From the West: Follow University Avenue until it becomes W Johnson Street. Turn left onto Park Street and the Wisconsin Historical Society will be on your right.
From the Beltline: Take exit 260B for Fish Hatchery Road North. Follow Fish Hatchery Road for 1.7 miles. Turn left onto Park Street. Stay on Park Street for just over 1 mile. The Wisconsin Historical Society will be on your right.

If you’re not local, it’s best to fly in to Dane County Regional Airport. From the Airport: Follow International Lane until it ends. Turn left onto Packers Avenue, which becomes Pennsylvania Avenue. Continue straight onto E Johnson Avenue for half a mile. Turn right onto Wisconsin Avenue. At the next light turn left onto Langdon Street. The Wisconsin Historical Society will be on your left in .6 miles.

If you’re up for a drive or bus ride, you can fly into Milwaukee General Mitchell Airport, which is about 90 minutes away. You can travel to downtown Madison via Badger Bus or U ber.

You can also easily fly into Chicago’s Midway Airport or Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. From there, take the Van Galder Bus to downtown Madison.

There is also an Amtrak Station in Columbus, Wisconsin, which is roughly 30 minutes from Downtown Madison via car.

Where to park

The Wisconsin Historical Society is located on the Library Mall of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Visitors with limited mobility may be dropped off and picked up in the small staff parking lot on the corner of Park and Langdon streets. For parking, I recommend the following:

The State Street Campus Garage is currently closed for reconstruction on the Lake Street Side. The Frances Street side of the garage is open, and charges an hourly rate of $1.80/hour with a maximum $8.00 daily rate.
On-street metered parking is available but very limited on Langdon Street. However, you can only park in metered parking spots for a maximum of 2 hours. I recommend getting the Park Smarter App for real-time availability of parking meters in the city of Madison. It’s also easy to pay and re-load your timing via the app.
The Helen C White Garage is the next best recommendation for parking close by the Wisconsin Historical Society. It’s located at the end of Park Street on your left. There is an upper and lower level.

On weekends, be sure to give yourself lots of extra time to find parking. The University of Wisconsin-Madison campus gets extremely busy on weekends–especially during game days.

It’s recommended to travel via ride share apps like Uber or Lyft or book a shuttle service for guests. Eliminating parking struggles is always appreciated

Where to stay

If you are selecting room blocks, I recommend looking into the following hotels:

Hilton Garden Inn Madison Downtown – One of the closest hotels to the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus is the Hilton Garden Inn. Featuring free wifi, an onsite restaurant, pet friendly rooms and a quick walk to campus, it’s a great option.
AC Hotel Madison Downtown – Right off the Capitol square, the AC hotel is one of the most popular for events in Madison. There’s even a restaurant on the top floors which is sure to stun your guests!
Madison Concourse Hotel – The Madison Concourse Hotel is perfect for those who want to stay close to all of the nightlife Madison has to offer.
Best Western Premier Park Hotel – The Park hotel is close to some of Madison’s best restaurants and has gorgeous capitol views!
The Edgewater Hotel – Located steps away from Lake Mendota with stunning sunset views, the Edgewater Hotel is an excellent option for you and your guests.
Spring Hill Suites Madison – Close to premier restaurants and shopping, this modern hotel seamlessly blends design and functionality, offering modern amenities to stay refreshed during your time in Madison.

For a unique local option, consider staying at these boutique hotels:

Governor’s Mansion Inn – This historic mansion is a great choice for those looking for a weekend away without the crowds and with a bit of history. Bonus is that there’s plenty of room for getting ready the morning of.
Hotel Ruby Marie – Madison’s best kept secret! This bed and breakfast offers breakfast, happy hour, late night food options and free parking on the premises!
Mansion Hill Inn – Steps away from the Capitol and Lake Mendota, the Mansion Hill Inn has an attentive staff, breakfast daily and all the comforts of home in Wisconsin’s Capitol City.
The Dylin – For those wanting modern luxury, The Dylin is for you. This stylish space is sure to make your trip to Madison special.
The Saddlery – With lake views and exposed brick throughout, The Saddlery is an excellent choice for anyone’s trip to Madison.
The Livingston Inn – If you’re looking for Victorian charm, look no further. The Livingston Inn provides breakfast, Wi-Fi and additional modern day conveniences.

Where to have your rehearsal dinner

The Harvey House – This modern supper club is sure to impress even the biggest foodies. For your private event, The Harvey House will provide a custom menu, attentive staff and one of the best meals of your life!!
Cooper’s Tavern – With amazing Capitol views, Cooper’s Tavern’s upper level is perfect for hosting your rehearsal dinner. They will work with you to create a menu and provide bar staff for your private bar. They’re also a quick walk from any hotel on the square!
Lucille – With multiple spaces available for your party, Lucille is one of the best options! They’ll provide a private bar and dedicated staff to ensure your experience is perfect.
The Edgewater – With gorgeous views, The Edgewater will provide the perfect backdrop for your rehearsal dinner.
Eno Vino – Located at the top of the AC Hotel, Eno Vino is a tapas-inspired restaurant known for their craft cocktails and city views.

The Spaces

The Lobby

With the ability to accommodate 225 people, the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Lobby features columns, mosaic tile floors, suspended globe lighting and marble throughout. It’s historic ambiance is the perfect setting for dinner and dancing.

The Library

Picture this: a gorgeous stained glass ceiling above your head as you say your vows with your favorite people surrounding you. Artisanal wood furniture, classic columns, and beautiful windows create a gorgeous space for your ceremony and reception.

The East Terrace

The perfect space for your ceremony and cocktail hour is the East Terrace. When the weather is right, enjoy the classic architecture while you mingle with your guests and the historic pillars tower above. You can even have dancing outside with the building lit in the color of your choice!

Amenities

The Wisconsin Historical Society provides a variety of amenities to make your wedding day a success!

White chairs (up to 200)
2 (or more) event staff
10 High Top tables
Tables (6’ & 8’ rectangular & 60” rounds)
PA system
Onsite Wedding rehearsal (dependent on
date)
Bride’s changing room
Groom’s changing room
Onsite parking for 2 vehicles
ADA Accessible
Catering and/or bar set up, trash removal, load in/ load out, reception and ceremony setup & take down services

Occupancy

Begin at 10am
Last call at 11pm
Bar closes at 11:15pm
Music ends at 11:15pm
Guests off property 11:30pm
Vendors off property at 12:30am

The Wisconsin Historical Society Wedding Photography Packages

Hey!! I’m Anya! I’m a wedding photographer based just outside of Madison and I specialize in helping my couples capture the real, unscripted moments of their love story with true to life color and timeless imagery. My work goes beyond being the girl with the camera. I will help you and your partner create a timeline that allows you to enjoy your wedding day at the Wisconsin Historical Society and spend the maximum amount of time with your guests. I’ll also help by providing vendor recommendations local to Madison and who have worked at the Wisconsin Historical Society before. By guiding you every step of the way, I’ll be a photographer that you can count on throughout this entire process.