Wisconsin Alpha was organized by Gertrude Clark Sober, Michigan Beta, and Elizabeth Church Smith, Colorado Alpha. The first installation of the chapter took place in Madison, Wisconsin, in November of 1894. It was installed on November 1, 1894 with the following charter members Elizabeth Church Smith, Elizabeth B. McGregor, Bessie Steenberg (Webster), Anna Pauline Houghton (Williams), Anna L. Meshek (Tillotson), Amelia Ecklor Huntington (Gilmore), Agnes Arlette Perry, Genevieve Church Smith and Nellie B MacGregor (Ellis). 
The chapter closed in 1971, and it was reinstalled in October 11, 1986 by Grand President Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg, Ohio Alpha. The festivities began with the preparatory service and Cookie Shine held in the historic Grace Episcopal Church. Initiation was held at the Edgewater Hotel. A banquet was held at the Maple Bluff Country Club on Saturday evening. On Sunday afternoon a reception was held at the Edgewater Hotel.
Meetings during the first year were held at Memorial Union or classrooms around campus. Wisconsin Alpha moved into the current chapter house in the fall 1987.

The chapter moved into the current house at 130 Langdon Street in 1987. The house is located on Lake Mendota and has its very own dock. Many members use the dock in the summer and spring for enjoying the sunshine, jumping into the lake and having an overall good time! The views of the lake make the house stand out amongst other chapters on campus. There are 21 rooms in the house with a total of 50 women who can live in. Many members live in the house their sophomore year as it’s a great place to become close with the women in a members New Member class!

Something that makes the house special is the secret turret! Known only to Wisconsin Alpha Pi Phis, the turret is located in the top corner of the house and can only be accessed by a separate stair well. The turret houses initiation each year and is a very notable part of the initiation experience! In addition to the turret, the house also has a grand piano. The piano has been a great asset to the chapter’s Humorology performances and makes singing along to Pi Phi songs a whole lot easier.