Lake Mendota, Madison

Name: Lake Mendota
Address: Madison, United States

#21 among attractions in Madison

Nature, Palladian architecture, Natural attraction, Lake

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Facts and practical information

Lake Mendota is a freshwater eutrophic lake that is the northernmost and largest of the four lakes in Madison, Wisconsin. The lake borders Madison on the north, east, and south, Middleton on the west, Shorewood Hills on the southwest, Maple Bluff on the northeast, and Westport on the northwest. Lake Mendota acquired its present name in 1849 following a proposal by a surveyor named Frank Hudson, who claimed to be familiar with local Native American languages; Lyman C. Draper, the first corresponding secretary of the Wisconsin Historical Society, proposed that 'Mendota' could have been a Chippewa word meaning 'large' or 'great.' ()

Alternative names: Area: 15.21 mi²Length: 5.62 miWidth: 4.11 miMaximum depth: 83 ftElevation: 846 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 43°6'19"N, 89°25'11"W

Address

Madison United States

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Day trips

Lake Mendota – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Memorial Union Terrace, Wisconsin Union Theater, Washburn Observatory, Chazen Museum of Art.

2.2 miSE
Palladian architecture, Nightlife, Bars and clubs
Memorial Union Terrace, Madison
57 min walk • The Memorial Union Terrace, nestled on the shores of Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin, is an iconic gathering spot renowned for its scenic views, vibrant atmosphere, and rich history. This lakeside terrace is part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Memorial...
2.2 miSE
Theater, Concerts and shows, Cinema
Wisconsin Union Theater, Madison
57 min walk • Wisconsin Union Theater is a performing arts center in Madison, Wisconsin, located in the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Memorial Union. Wisconsin Union Theater performances include world stage, concerts, dance, jazz and other special events.
2.1 miS
Palladian architecture, Observatories and planetariums, Museum
Washburn Observatory, Madison
54 min walk • The Washburn Observatory is an astronomical observatory located at 1401 Observatory Drive on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Completed in 1881, it was a major research facility for about 50 years.
2.4 miSE
Palladian architecture, Museum, Cinema
Chazen Museum of Art, Madison
62 min walk • The Chazen Museum of Art is an art museum located at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The Chazen Museum of Art is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
2.2 miS
Palladian architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright, Church
First Unitarian Society of Madison, Madison
56 min walk • The First Unitarian Society of Madison is a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin. Its meeting house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built by Marshall Erdman in 1949–1951, and has been designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark for its architecture.
2 miS
Palladian architecture, Botanical garden, Garden
Allen Centennial Gardens, Madison
51 min walk • The Allen Centennial Garden is a free public garden on the grounds of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The grounds feature the Agricultural Dean's House, a brick Queen Anne-style home built in 1896, and the home of the first four deans of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
2.6 miSE
Nightlife, Music and shows, Music venue
Madison Masonic Temple, Madison
65 min walk • The Madison Masonic Temple is a masonic temple located in Madison, Wisconsin. Designed by Madison architects James R. and Edward J. Law in 1915 and redesigned after World War I in 1922, the temple was built during 1923 to 1925. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
2.3 miS
Colonial revival architecture
Old U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, Madison
58 min walk • The Old U.S. Forest Products Laboratory is located in Madison, Wisconsin.
2.2 miS
Palladian architecture, Neighbourhood
Bascom Hill, Madison
57 min walk • Bascom Hill is the iconic main quadrangle that forms the historic core of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. It is located on the opposite end of State Street from the Wisconsin State Capitol, and is named after John Bascom, former president of the University of Wisconsin.
2.1 miS
Tudor Revival architecture
Stock Pavilion, Madison
55 min walk • The Stock Pavilion is part of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
2.2 miS
Colonial revival architecture
Agricultural Engineering Building, Madison
56 min walk • The Agricultural Engineering Building is a historic 1907 building in Madison, Wisconsin which houses the Biological Systems Engineering Department of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.