The Sterling Hall Bombing Rocked Madison
On Aug. 24, 1970, UW-Madison’s Sterling Hall was bombed in protest of the Vietnam War. The explosion killed a physics researcher, injured others, and caused millions of dollars of damages. Three of the four alleged bombers served prison sentences, while the fourth, Leo Burt, has never been seen since.
A UW Libraries oral history project from 2010 archives the memories and accounts of Madisonians who lived through the blast. Some of their voices are featured on this episode. Plus, host Bianca Martin chats to UW oral historian Troy Reeves about the event and its lasting impact on the Madison community 56 years later.
This episode was originally published on Aug. 25, 2025.
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