Places
Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project Fundraiser
If you appreciate the History Project's work, we hope you'll support the second fundraiser in our 29-year history!
We are a self-funded, independent, all-volunteer, non-profit team -- and we provide most services FREE to the community.
Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project Fundraiser
If you appreciate the History Project's work, we hope you'll support the second fundraiser in our 29-year history!
We are a self-funded, independent, all-volunteer, non-profit team -- and we provide most services FREE to the community.
Bar Dance|Disco|Drag|Live Music
418 E. Wilson St
Madison, WI
State Region
Southwest WI
Year Opened: 1975
Year Closed: 2017
Exact Date Opened: Sunday, December 01, 1974
Exact Date Closed: Unknown
Clientele Primarily Identified As
Mixed
Logo:
Inspired by Key West gay liberation, founder Ricardo Gonzalez opened the Cardinal as a gay Latin club in December 1974. Today, it's the longest-operating queer space in Wisconsin.
INPUT ALWAYS WELCOME!
We are always looking for photos of the exterior and interiors of Bars and other Places, as well as information about ownership, activities and opening and closing background info about Places. We welcome your input and photos!
INPUT ALWAYS WELCOME!
We are always looking for photos of the exterior and interiors of Bars and other Places, as well as information about ownership, activities and opening and closing background info about Places. We welcome your input and photos!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
© 2026 Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project. All Rights Reserved.