One of the oldest building in the Madison area and the
only historical building on the Fairgrounds is the Octagon Building, located on
the south end of the County Fairgrounds in Madison, NE.
It was once called the Art Hall and later Center Building.
It was built sometime in the mid 1880’s.
It has a first floor, central stairway leading to a balcony and the
second floor and a center cupola above looking down on the first floor.
The building is approximately 3 stories in height with the outside
perimeter of ____.
Originally, an outside balcony with railing for band
concerts, etc., was on the north.
In the 1980’s this was closed in to accommodate more
of the schools’ art displays.
When Madison Downs featured horse racing the facility
house showers, dressing and steam rooms for the jockeys to use on ground floor
to the north.
Renovated in 2000 the entire building is now used for
the area schools’ art and open class displays.