The　pseudo-static　test　on　8　one-half　scale　steel　column　models　with　cruciform　section　under　cyclic　loading　is　introduced　in　this　paper.　The　deformation　properties　and　the　failure　mode　are　discussed　along　with　the　hysteretic　loops,　skeleton　curves,　bearing　capacity,　ductility　and　energy-dissipation　capacities.　The　effect　of　flange　width-　thickness　ratio,　web　depth-thickness　ratio　and　axial　compression　ratio　are　reviewed.　Finite-　element　analysis　is　carried　out　based　on　initial　geometric　imperfection　and　geometric　nonlinearity.　The　experimental　results　are　close　to　the　finite-element　analysis　results,　which　shows　that　the　specially　shaped　steel　column　with　cruciform　section　has　excellent　bearing　capacity,　good　ductility　and　energy　dissipation　if　certain　flange　width-thickness　ratio,　web　depth-thickness　ratio　and　axial　compression　ratio　conditions　are　appropriate.　The　failure　mode　was　local　buckling　instability　failure　with　sufficient　plastic　deformation.　The　study　evidenced　that　specially　shaped　steel　columns　with　cruciform　section　can　be　used　in　seismic　region.　This　study　can　provide　background　for　practical　engineering　applications　and　design　specification　for　steel　structures　with　specially　shaped　columns.