Panel Unveiling at Man Mound National Historic Landmark
Baraboo, WI- New interpretive panels were unveiled on May 14 at Man Mound National Historic Landmark near Baraboo. The panels will help educate visitors to this sacred and historic site which was built about 1,000 years ago. Man Mound was recorded by surveyor and historian William Canfield in 1859 and not long after a town road was built in the area which destroyed parts of the legs of the mound. By 1907 the mound was threatened with total destruction but was saved through the combined efforts of the Sauk County Historical Society, the Wisconsin Archeological Society, and the Federated Women’s Clubs of Wisconsin which all raised money to buy the piece of land. Man Mound Park was dedicated in 1908 and is now owned by the Sauk County Historical Society and maintained by the Sauk County Parks Department. In 2016, Man Mound became a National Historic Landmark, one of only 44 national historic landmarks in the state and the only one that is a mound. This highly significant designation brought renewed attention to the mound which is now the only human-shaped effigy mound left in the world. Today’s unveiling of three new interpretive panels at Man Mound helps tell the story of not only the Man Mound but also mounds in general and the effigy mound culture that thrived primarily in what is now southern Wisconsin. As many as 20,000 mounds once existed across the southern part of the state and into neighboring states but most have been destroyed by farming and building. All remaining mounds are now protected by state law.
Today’s event at Man Mound brought together representatives of the Sauk County Historical Society, the Ho-Chunk Nation, Sauk County government, Indigenous Students United, and over 50 members of the public to witness the unveiling. The Winnebago Sons Drum Group performed three traditional songs for the event which was emceed by Seth Taft, Chair of the Sacred Sites Committee of the Sauk County Historical Society. Remarks were also made by Kristin White Eagle, Ho-Chunk legislator and Sacred Sites Committee member, John Dietrich, Sauk County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair, Paul Wolter, Executive Director of the Sauk County Historical Society and Seneca Funmaker, President of Indigenous Students United of Baraboo High School. Congressman Mark Pocan, who could not be in attendance, sent letters of congratulations and support to the Sauk County Historical Society and the Ho-Chunk Nation for their efforts in preserving Man Mound and educating the public.
Five students from Indigenous Students United at Baraboo High School had the honor of unveiling the interpretive panels. Man Mound National Historic Landmark is open to the public from dawn until dusk and can be found on Man Mound Road north east of Baraboo.
