Bascom Hill Walking Tour

media release: Bascom Hill is where the University of Wisconsin campus began. Iconic Bascom Hall at its top is flanked by UW’s first two buildings (1851 and 1855). Today the hill is lined with buildings ranging in style from elegant 19th-century Beau Arts to 20th-century modernistic Brutalist. In 1974 Bascom Hill was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its historic architecture and for its significance in the areas of education, politics, conservation, art and music, and communications.

*Bascom Hill is a steep walk, but the group will be stopping along the way to the top to look at historic buildings.

Meet: The meeting location for this tour will be provided in your confirmation email.

After the Tour: Stop by any MOKA location and receive 50% off any beverage of your choice after the tour!

Length: Approximately 1.5 hours

Cost: $15 Adult, $5 Student, $5 MTHP Members, free for children under 5

Online reservations are required. Ticket sales close 24 hours before the tour start time. Member are required to enter their Member ID.

*Ticket Transfers: We can now transfer your tickets to a different date, provided it is for the same tour you originally booked. Transfers are subject to availability and can only be made if tickets are still available for the new date.

Refunds: To receive a refund, you must cancel 3 days (72 hours) prior to your tour to receive a refund. To request a refund, email us at info@madisonpreservation.org.

Weather: We will be there rain or shine! See Cancellations below for exceptions.

Cancellations by The Madison Trust:For the safety of our guests, a tour may be cancelled for extreme weather or lightening. If possible, we will alert guests in advance by email. Purchased tickets will be refunded.

What to wear: Dress for the weather in comfortable shoes, as tours require standing and walking for up to 2 hours (depending on the tour).

Bathrooms: There are no bathroom facilities on the tours.

Interested in becoming a member of the Madison Trust? Learn more about membership.

If you would like to buy tickets for a different tour, click here.

*You will notice that the booking fee (ticketing site fee) and transaction fee (credit card fee) are included in the ticket price. As a small nonprofit, events such as this are a fundraiser and incorporating in fees helps us continue these informative and enjoyable tours.