Recent additions to the National Register of Historic Places highlight four Madison sites recognized for their architectural, cultural, and archaeological significance. Newly listed are the 1966 Mackenzie House, a Modern Movement residence in the UW Arboretum; the Italian Workmen’s Club on Regent Street, a longtime social hub for Madison’s Italian-American community; the Gay Building on the Capitol Square, the city’s first “skyscraper” and a touchstone in early 20th-century development debates; and the Willow Drive Mounds and Habitation Site, an ancient archaeological complex along Lake Mendota now added to the National Register. Together, these listings reflect Madison’s diverse history, from Indigenous lifeways to modern architecture and immigrant community life.

The historic State Office Building at 1 West Wilson Street is being put up for sale as part of Wisconsin’s “Vision 2030” plan to shrink the state’s downtown office footprint amid increased remote work. These changes prompt a timely re-visit of the Old SOB, inviting readers to take another look at its Art Deco design and enduring presence as it heads into a new chapter.