Near Boaz in Richland County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Boaz Mastodon

Photographed by Keith L, May 5, 2009

1. Boaz Mastodon Marker

Inscription. In 1897, after a severe rainstorm in Richland County, farm boys Chris, Harry, Clyde and Verne Dosch found large bones sticking out of an eroded bank on a tributary of Mill Creek near Boaz. The bones were later identified as those of the extinct American Mastodon, a large, hairy animal, nine feet tall and weighing eight tons, related to modern elephants. This was the first recorded discovery of mastodon bones in Wisconsin. Mastodons lived in North America from Florida to Alaska during cool, wet times dominated by spruce forests. They had moved into Wisconsin after the last glacial retreat about 13,000 years ago and lived here for the next 4,000 years, when they became extinct. A fluted quartzite spear point found near the bones suggests that humans also arrived in Wisconsin shortly after the glacial retreat and may have hunted these animals for food. The assembled Boaz Mastodon skeleton is on exhibit at the Geology Museum, University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Erected 1995 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 326.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Animals.

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In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.

Location. 43° 20.585′ N, 90° 30.22′ W. Marker is near Boaz, Wisconsin, in Richland County. It is on U.S. 14 0.7 miles east of County Highway Z, on the left when traveling east. Marker is at a highway pull-off. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Richland Center WI 53581, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rural Electrification (a few steps from this marker); Richard M. Brewer (approx. 1.3 miles away); Ocooch Mountains (approx. 1.3 miles away); Wisconsin Purple Heart Memorial Highway (approx. 5½ miles away); Ada James (approx. 5.8 miles

Photographed by Keith L, May 5, 2009

2. Boaz Mastodon Marker

away); Krouskop Park (approx. 5.8 miles away); Vernon W. Thomson (approx. 5.8 miles away); The Little Rock (approx. 10 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boaz.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Birthplace of GTE (was approx. 5.8 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Boaz Mastodon Marker (foreground) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, May 5, 2009

3. Boaz Mastodon Marker (foreground)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 4,014 times since then and 159 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 11, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 3. submitted on May 12, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.