3 Best Sights in Madison, Wisconsin

A three-story glass structure, designed by Cesar Pelli, juts out above the intersection of State and Henry streets and is home to this superb art museum. Formerly known as Madison Art Center, the new 51,500-square-foot facility opened in 2006. Its permanent collection of photography, paintings, prints, and glassworks spans the 20th century to the present. Among the most recognized artists are Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Deborah Butterfield, and Cindy Sherman. A rooftop sculpture garden is open only during the spring, summer, and fall, but year-round seasonal cuisine is served in an enclosed rooftop restaurant. Be sure to stop by the museum's gift shop and browse studio-made objects crafted by highly accomplished artists.

One of the state's best art museums, the Chazen Museum of Art, on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, houses a permanent collection of paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts dating from 2300 BC to the present. It's supported by the campus's department of art history and employs an artist-in-residence. A dozen or so temporary exhibits each year compliment the already strong collection. Educational programming dives deeper into those works of art through films, lectures, artist talks, docent-led tours, and family-friendly activities.

From Native American cultures to contemporary social issues, this museum houses permanent and changing exhibits that reveal Wisconsin's history. Past exhibits have included aluminum Christmas trees (Wisconsin once housed the world's largest manufacturer) or watercolor paintings that depict the Driftless Region, an agriculturally rich area of carved river valleys in the state's southwestern corner. State naturalists, authors, artists, and historians host afternoon talks for adults and children, and round out the museum's focus on the Dairy State's unique history and its many contributions to the nation.