The river front was once the heart of Baraboo. Railroads, industry and commercial trade gravitated toward the river, making it the initial center of activity. On the river in this area at various times 1844 - 1902 were saw mill, lathe, shingle, bed . . . — — Map (db m20302) HM
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to help poor families during the Great Depression and to deal with serious natural resources problems. Because of its focus on both employment and conservation, the . . . — — Map (db m192304) HM
The CCC operated camps in 11 Wisconsin State Parks and over 60 other locations through the state. Over 60,000 men served in state parks and contributed to lasting landscape and building improvements, many of which remain today.
Crews here and . . . — — Map (db m192305) HM
Each camp housed 200 men plus technical staff and army personnel. Enrollees slept, ate and relaxed in uninsulated barracks - simple, tarpapered wooden structures built by the first enrollees. Screens on windows and doors let in cool, summer night . . . — — Map (db m192322) HM
In an effort to get the economy moving during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Federal Government initiated a number of work projects. One of these was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
The CCC was for males, ages 18 to 25. Men were . . . — — Map (db m19986) HM
Even though visitors were drawn to the Lake by its beauty, the hotels would not have been as successful without the workers and the services provided by the local families in the area.
Caption for upper left photo: Workers at the . . . — — Map (db m37652) HM
In 1911, Devil's Lake became the third State Park in Wisconsin.
Devil's Lake was created when the last glacier to visit this area began to retreat approximately 14,000 years ago. Glacial debris plugged both ends of the Devil's Lake Gorge as . . . — — Map (db m37613) HM
On this site in 1839 first permanent home in Baraboo was erected by Abraham Wood, who with Wallace Rowan, built nearby in 1840, the first sawmill and dam on the Baraboo River. — — Map (db m191590) HM
Workers carved stone blocks and hand-hewed timbers for most projects. This labor-intensive method resulted in distinctive and sturdy buildings such as the North Shore Bath House and the headquarters building. Other buildings include two . . . — — Map (db m192321) HM
[A map in the upper left corner of the marker shows the extent of glaciation over North America and Wisconsin's position. Below it, a map shows the extent of glaciation in Wisconsin, with the locations of National Scientific Reserve Sites . . . — — Map (db m38943) HM
At this site was the village of Chief Car-A-Maue-Nee of the Winnebago Indians. Across the St. was his Council House in the midst of 7 effigy Earth mounds representing animals. In this area were about 90 effigies and conical mounds, second largest of . . . — — Map (db m65670) HM
Man Mound
has been designated a
National Historic Landmark
The Man Mound is nationally significant as a rare example of a human-shaped Effigy Mound. Effigy Mounds are earthen sculptures created in the shapes of . . . — — Map (db m141035) HM
This huge likeness of a man is thought to represent a powerful Indian God. The aborigines who made it may have been the Effigy Mound Builders. These Indians lived here about 1000 years ago. Nearly 900 of their earthworks have been found in Sauk . . . — — Map (db m182854) HM
✶ Probably built in 1943 by Cole Bros. craftsmen in Louisville, Kentucky
✶ Constructed entirely of structural steel and rides on solid rubber tires
✶ Included a water tank for the sea lions' comfort and . . . — — Map (db m141111) HM
The Hotel Era at Devil's Lake lasted from 1866 into the early 1900's. The north shore area catered to an upscale clientele.
Caption for top left photo: On February 22, 1866 the "Hotel Era" began at Devil's Lake with the opening of . . . — — Map (db m37645) HM
In 1884, the Ringling Bros. founded their Circus in Baraboo. For thirty-four years, until 1918, the circus used these very buildings here on Water Street as their winterquarters.
The Ringling Bros. Circus, starting pathetically small, grew . . . — — Map (db m191583) HM
“The Greatest Show on Earth” was born and grew to maturity in Baraboo, just north of here. When the five Ringling brothers gave the first performance of their "Great Double Shows, Circus and Caravan," May 19, 1884, the main tent was 45 by 90 feet. . . . — — Map (db m185211) HM
Has Been Designated a
Registered National
Historic Landmark
Under the Provisions of the
Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935
this Site Possesses Exceptional Value
in Commemorating or Illustrating
the History of the United . . . — — Map (db m141768) HM
Erected to the memory of
Sauk County soldiers
in the War for the Union
by
Joe Hooker Post No. 9, Dept. of Wis.
Grand Army of the Republic
The Women's Relief Corps No. 36
and Citizens of Sauk County.
——
1896
1861 . . . — — Map (db m42540) HM
While the north shore catered to a more elegant lifestyle, the south shore retained a touch of rustic charm.
Caption for upper left photo: A "Public House" was first erected on the south shore in 1870 by H.B. Sheldon. It would go by . . . — — Map (db m37655) HM
This large gap, called the Lower Narrows, is one of three major gorges that cut through the 50 mile circumference of the Baraboo Range. These gorges were created by rivers more than 500 million years ago and then buried by sediments in a vast sea . . . — — Map (db m3951) HM
In Recognition of
The Ringling Bros. and Baraboo, Wisconsin Circus Heritage
presented by
Irvin Feld and Kenneth Feld Owners of the Greatest Show on Earth
This historical marker, commemorates the birthplace of the . . . — — Map (db m109260) HM
The Ringling family resided in Baraboo for many years. Being of German & French extraction, they literally went from rags to riches while operating their circus out of Baraboo. This closely knit family brought fame & prominence to their hometown, . . . — — Map (db m109265) HM
Between 1886 and 1918 the Ringling Bros. Circus occupied at least 22 winter quarters buildings in the Ringlingville area along the north side of the Baraboo River as well as a railroad car shop on the south side of the river six blocks to the west. . . . — — Map (db m191589) HM
This enduring highway connecting
Baraboo with Devils Lake was made
possible through the generosity of
Wilbur William Warner
(1850 – 1916)
Whose boyhood home was here.
To his cherished memory this tablet
is gratefully . . . — — Map (db m20251) HM
About one mile to the southeast is the site of White Mound. This village consisted of a general store and post office, cheese factory, blacksmith shop, saloon, and dance hall. The post office was in existence from 1859 to 1919. Before granting this . . . — — Map (db m183095) HM
The first iron deposits in Sauk County were discovered about 1½ miles south of here in 1849. The commercial production of iron was begun by Jonas Tower in 1858. Large slag deposits at the smelter site still give evidence of the iron operation. . . . — — Map (db m59786) HM
Here on the Wisconsin River the village of Newport was begun in 1853, planned for a population of 10,000. Assuming that the Milwaukee & LaCrosse Railroad would cross the river here, over 2000 settlers quickly came to Newport, causing a lively land . . . — — Map (db m7984) HM
On April 14, 2003, the Lake Delton Village Board named this park "Kaminski Park" in honor of Frank J. Kaminski in recognition of his tireless efforts in promoting this development. This honor was bestowed upon Frank because of his commitment to the . . . — — Map (db m192051) HM
On the morning of June 9, 2008, after several days of drenching rains, flood waters overtopped the banks of Lake Delton and washed away a narrow strip of land separating the lake from the Wisconsin River. Raging waters sent the 267-acre Lake Delton . . . — — Map (db m33281) HM
In the late 19th century, Wisconsin became one of the leading lumber producing states in the country. Before the construction of Wisconsin's railroads, the state's major rivers were used to transport logs and lumber from northern Wisconsin to . . . — — Map (db m192028) HM
The Newport mound group formerly consisted of two large panther effigies aligned with the western bank of the Wisconsin River at the Lower Dells. One of the panthers was destroyed in the 19th Century during construction of the Village of Newport. . . . — — Map (db m192022) HM
In June of 2008 after an unprecedented series of storms, a breach occurred in the eastern end of Lake Delton completely draining the lake. Gordon "Gordy" Priegel, a Trustee for the Village of Lake Delton and a gentleman very knowledgeable of fish . . . — — Map (db m192048) HM
The Bridge
This Natural Bridge of sandstone, 35 feet high, was carved by the uneven dissolving of mineral deposits holding the sand grains together. The result after many years of erosion by water, frost action, wind, and gravity is the . . . — — Map (db m20195) HM
Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society has operated steam trains at North Freedom since 1963 preserving early 1900s railroading history. The museum runs vintage rolling stock on a branch line opened in 1903 to serve iron mines. Its . . . — — Map (db m19951) HM
Joseph A. Vodak 1898 – 1974
Julia Wopat Vodak 1903 – 1985
The Vodak family moved to North Freedom in 1927 from Hillsboro, Wis. Joe operated a sawmill at railroad museum location and a lumber shop at this site.
Joe and . . . — — Map (db m20228) HM
Second-generation Protestants primarily from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York settled the area surrounding Plain in the late 1840s. Catholic immigrants from Bavaria, Germany arrived in the 1860s and their population grew rapidly. Fr. Charles . . . — — Map (db m229701) HM
The northern area of Franklin Township, Sauk County, WI, was first settled in the early 1850s by mostly English, along with some Irish and a few Swiss immigrants. This area, known as White Mound, got its name from the whitish limestone rock, which . . . — — Map (db m183099) HM
The rugged range of hills which can be seen to the north of here is among the oldest visible physical features on the earth. The hard quartzite rock that forms them was deposited as sand in a shallow sea which once covered this region. Although . . . — — Map (db m19488) HM
This historic depot stands on the site of an attempted deportation and relocation of the family of Ahuchoga (also known as Blue Wing) Chief of the Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) to a reservation in Nebraska.
Here on December 26, 1873, a heroic group of . . . — — Map (db m158789) HM
Clare A. Briggs was born in Reedsburg on August 5, 1875 to Mr. and Mrs. William Pardee Briggs.
At an early age Briggs became a sketch artist, and in 1896 he accepted a job as an illustrator with the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. After . . . — — Map (db m1649) HM
Clare A. Briggs was born in Reedsburg on 5 August 1875 to Mr. and Mrs. William Pardee Briggs; he lived here into his early teens.
Briggs became one of our nation's best known cartoonists, often using local scenes and names in his popular . . . — — Map (db m33609) HM
Near this location was Camp Reedsburg, a World War II prisoner of war camp that housed 137 German POWs. There were more than 35 camps across Wisconsin. The United States entered WWII after Pearl Harbor and within months began receiving enemy POWs. . . . — — Map (db m225367) HM
The material of this rock was once sand on the sea bottom, and has since hardened into quartzite. It was tilted to the present position by a slow earth movement, and then separated from the adjacent cliff by erosion. The vertical light and dark . . . — — Map (db m19848) HM
This outcrop of Baraboo Quartzite, located in the Baraboo Hills and known as Van Hise Rock, has been the focus of national and international scientific interest for over one hundred years. The rock is named in honor of University of . . . — — Map (db m32445) HM
Born February 24, 1909, in Sauk City, August Derleth lived virtually his entire life in his native Sac Prairie. He began writing at the age of thirteen and had over 150 books to his credit at the time of his death on July 4, 1971. Versatile as he . . . — — Map (db m148690) HM
The George Culver family opened the
original Culver's Frozen Custard
Restaurant on this site
July 18, 1984
The current restaurant opened
April 27, 2000
This monument is a tribute to the
Sauk-Prairie area residents . . . — — Map (db m19479) HM
Organized in 1852 by German-American settlers, the Free Congregation (Freie Gemeinde) dominated the cultural, economic and intellectual life of Sauk City well into the twentieth century. This is one of two congregations surviving a once prominent . . . — — Map (db m67226) HM
Sauk City originally was the site of an important Indian village. Jonathan Carver visited here on October 9, 1766 and wrote, "This is the largest and
best built Indian town I ever saw. It contains about 90 houses, each large enough for several . . . — — Map (db m57935) HM
The Salem Evangelical Church, now commonly known as the Honey Creek United Methodist Church, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This church and its site commemorate the settlers from Canton Graubuenden, Switzerland and their . . . — — Map (db m137084) HM
On July 22, during the Black Hawk War of 1832, Sac Indian leader Black Hawk and about 700 followers escaped down the Wisconsin River after the Battle of Wisconsin Heights. Traveling the river in hastily built canoes and rafts or on foot along the . . . — — Map (db m35337) HM
On June 9, 2008 after an unprecedented series of storms, a breach occurred in the eastern end of Lake Delton. Lake Delton is the heart of the community and an essential part of the tourist industry.
Immediate restoration of the lake was . . . — — Map (db m192031) HM
Modeled after Frontierland at Disneyland, Fort Dells was built here in 1959 bringing the Disney Experience to Dells Visitors for 26 years.
Featuring–Stagecoach, Railroad, Paddlewheel Steamboat, Swinging Bridge, Blockhouse Exhibits, Escape . . . — — Map (db m9294) HM
This American Flag was dedicated
November 22, 2002
to honor
Stanton Peter Helland,
who is symbolic of unwavering
leadership, determined dedication
and peerless contributions to
preserving the unique
beauty and scenic splendor
of . . . — — Map (db m26182) HM
The Indians believed that many years ago the Great Spirit, in the form of a snake, created the Dells when it forced its huge body through a narrow opening in the rocks. Geological studies, however, show that the Dells were formed some fifteen . . . — — Map (db m1882) HM
