[MplsTodd]

Here's selections of photos I took in Madison Wisconsin while a grad student back in the '80s along with periodic visits in the '90s. Madison is both the State Capital and also home to University of Wisconsin and has grown significantly since the '80s. The city has a very unique geographical layout, with downtown being located on an isthmus between two sizable lakes. Coming from Minneapolis, the lakes in Madison felt very familiar, although they are much bigger than the Minneapolis Lakes (which you can easily walk around in an hour). Unlike today, the Capitol Square in downtown Madison was struggling in the '80s as retail development was exploding on the city's west side (Odanna Road was the trendy retail location then). The City staged lots of events along Capitol Square, including a very popular weekly farmer's market (which continues to this day). Despite the struggles of the Square, State Street, which links the Capitol Square to the university campus, was very lively.

Madison Skyline from Lake Monona Fall 1984 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Looking up State Street to UW Campus from State Capitol, Madison September 1984 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Homecoming in the rain, Capitol Square, Madison, Fall 1984 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Farmers Market on the Square, Madison, WI Fall 1984 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Farmers Market on the Square, Madison, WI by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Shops along Capitol Square, Madison, fall 1984 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Along the Square, Madison, WI Fall 1984 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Bike racing around the square, Madison Summer 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Mondale-Ferraro Rally, Fall 1984 at Wisconsin State Capitol by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Purple Rain at The Orpheum, State Street, Madison Fall 1984 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr
Closing Store, Capitol Square, Madison -- 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Langdon Street near the UW, Madison, Wisconsin - March 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Red & White Hamburgers, N Henry Street, north of State Street, Madison, WI by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

old train station, Madison fall 1986 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

The Elephants have arrived, Madison Sept 1986 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Lake Monona, Madison spring 1987 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Lake Mendota Shoreline, Madison, WI -- March 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Reagan admits mistake in Iran for Contras Deal, Newspaper Headlines--March 1987, Madison, WI by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Gilman Street, south of State, Madison, WI March 1987 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

State Street & Fairchild, Madison, WI by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

State Street during Maxwell Street Days, July 13, 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

State Street during Maxwell Street Days, a major sales event in downtown Madison by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

State Street, Madison during Maxwell Street Days Sale July 13, 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Orpheum Theater, State Street, Madison (Jan 1985) by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

State Street, Madison (Jan 1985) by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

State Street, Madison fall 1984 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

State Street, Madison -- Fall 1984 (after Homecoming Parade) by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

State & Lake, Madison near UW Campus by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Looking from Bascom Hall down Bascom Mall to Capitol, UW Madison Dec 1987 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Library Mall, UW Madison Dec 1987 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Studying at UW Memorial Library, Madison -- March 1987 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin, Madison -- September 1997 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr
Enjoying Spring Sunshine at Union Terrace, UW Madison March 1987 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Hanging out on the Terrace, UW Madison Student Union, along Lake Mendota by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Lunchboxes on Display, outside UW Student Union by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

UW Students--fall 1986 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Climbing Bascom Hill on a foggy day, UW-Madison — Fall 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

University of Wisconsin at Madison, Fall 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

UW Madison--Fall 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr
In fall 1985, Filming took place on the UW campus for the Rodney Dangerfield movie "Back to School". As shown here, the UW was named Great Lakes University in the movie.

Park Street, University of Wisconsin, Madison--Fall 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr
Near Library Plaza, UW Madison by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr
Looking down Library Mall and State Street from Bascom Hill, UW Madison 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Madison, WI - 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Lake Mendota , Madison (Spring 1985) by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Monona Bay, Madison Sunrise Fall 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Wisconsin Arboretum, Madison October 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Bike-mania--Budget Bike Shop on Regent Street, Madison Dec 1987 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Two Madison bars: Church Key & Headliners Fall 1986 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

My stereo in Madison--just vinyl and cassettes, fall 1984 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Todd at 125 S Brittingham Place, September 1986 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Beatles on CD--1st 4 LPs released February 1987 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

The Kinks Playing Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI -- March 10, 1985 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

State Street at Gotham, Madison, WI -- Sept 1999 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Essen Haus, East Wilson Street, Madison, WI -- October 1997 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Myles Teddywedgers--Cornish Pasty Pies--State Street, Madison, WI -- April 1996 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Fairchild at State Street, Madison -- April 1996 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Barrymore Theater, Madison, Wisconsin— April 1996 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

View from Concourse Hotel, Madison, WI - Sept 1991 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr

Madison, WI — April 1996 by Todd Jacobson, on Flickr