The State Theatre opened in 1926 as a vaudeville and silent-film house, and the original interior has been carefully preserved through several restoration campaigns — the ornate plasterwork, the painted ceiling, and the original balcony remain intact. It is now a 1,100-seat performing arts venue with a broad programme of concerts, comedy, and theatrical productions. The indie band Bon Iver, whose frontman Justin Vernon is from Eau Claire, has used it for intimate hometown performances.
Even without a ticket, the building is worth noticing from the street: the facade is one of the better pieces of 1920s theatre architecture remaining in small-city Wisconsin. Check the programme in advance — it fills up for the better shows.