Bascom Hill

Bascom Hill is a central elevation on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus featuring academic buildings and open green spaces. The rise contains multiple pathways connecting to surrounding structures and is crowned by Bascom Hall at its peak.

This location marks the site of North Hall, constructed in 1851 as the university's first building and establishing the beginning of the campus's physical development. That initial structure set the foundation for the campus to expand around this central rise over the following decades.

Students spend time on the grassy slopes between classes, creating a social gathering space that has been part of campus life for generations. The hill functions as a central meeting point where informal interactions shape the daily rhythm of the university.

Multiple trails wind around and across the hill, naturally connecting different campus areas with varying grades. Plan to take your time exploring as the slopes offer changes in elevation and shifting views of the surrounding campus.

The hill contains preserved Native American mounds near Washburn Observatory, created long before the university was established. These earthworks offer a tangible connection to the indigenous history that preceded the campus.