Machinery Row runs a half mile east of the capitol, a long brick commercial block in Madison. Look at the continuous masonry here: it was built in stages from about 1898 to 1914 to house businesses that wanted good access to the east-side railroad depots. Many of the firms that filled these storefronts distributed agricultural implements — that practical trade is why this strip earned the name “Machinery.
In 1982 the block was recognized for its significance and added to the National Register of Historic Places. To understand why this spot mattered, picture Madison’s earlier growth: the city’s first focus was the capitol square, but by the 1850s a second business district was forming on the east side around Williamson Street. Railroads intensified that change.
The Chicago & Northwestern arrived in 1864, placing its depot a block away at the intersection of Blair and E. Wilson, and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul arrived in 1869. With those connections Madison became a hub for shipping farm equipment; in 1866 implement shipments from Madison totaled 70,760 pounds eastward and 2,686,330 pounds westward. In 1866 implement shipments from Madison totaled 70,760 pounds eastward and 2,686,330 pounds westward.