Madison Introduction Walking Tour, Madison

Madison Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Madison

The Native Americans called the Madison area Taychopera, meaning "land of the four lakes" which are known today as Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa. The first European settlement began in 1829 when James Duane Doty, a former federal judge, purchased over a thousand acres of land between Lakes Mendota and Monona.

The city was named after President James Madison and made the state capital in 1836. Settlers built the University of Wisconsin campus in 1848, the railroad arrived in 1854, and the city served as an important center for the Union Army during the Civil War.

Today, the University of Wisconsin and its hospital and clinics, and the state are some of the top employers. The arts and culture are of significant importance, evident in some of the city's most popular attractions.

The Wisconsin State Capitol, dating to 1917, is the place to see where the legislature, governor, and the state's Supreme Court operate. Dropping by The Wisconsin Historical Museum will help give you a closer look at all aspects of the city and state's history. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum celebrates the lives of veterans from the state who have served in all wars.

This city also has a wealth of cultural attractions, such as Monona Terrace, the site of many musical performances. The Overture Center has a blend of both performances and exhibitions that provide something for everyone.

State Street is the perfect place to find unique shopping and dining opportunities. Memorial Union and Terrace is an ideal place to hang out and relax.

To see some of Madison's most interesting sites, take this self-guided walking tour.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Emery.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Madison

Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Madison Introduction Walking Tour
Guide Location: USA » Madison (See other walking tours in Madison)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

WalkBuilder (customize this walk)

Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click

at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.

Click here to view route map

Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
Email*:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access my walking tour in Madison?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “Madison Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in Madison?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in Madison, Wisconsin

Create Your Own Walk in Madison

Creating your own self-guided walk in Madison is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Walking Tour

Founded the same year as Wisconsin achieved its statehood – 1848, the University of Wisconsin in Madison (often simply referred to as UW Madison) is the oldest public university in the state and the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. The UW Madison campus, located on the shores of Lake Mendota, includes four National Historic Landmarks. Complete with these and a sweeping view... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles