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| Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden |
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location: Cochrane / Fountain City
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| roadside attraction / outsider artist / yard art |
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The Prairie Moon Museum is also listed below on this webpage.
"This historic site, fully restored and donated to the Town of Milton in 1994 by the Kohler Foundation, features more than 40 sculptures created by the late Herman Rusch, who was a farmer, fiddler and self-taught artist. The gardens are enclosed in a 267-ft arched fence and are open daily year 'round. Tour guides are available through the Fountain City Historical Society."
– section from Explore Wisconsin website
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 Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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 (5 miles north of Fountain City. 2½ miles south of Cochrane. Take Highway 35 from either city, then turn west onto Prairie Moon Road. Follow for ½ mile to the site.)
S 2727 Prairie Moon Road
Fountain City, WI 54629
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hours:
Gardens: open daily during the summer.
Museum: Memorial Day weekend thru Labor Day weekend
(Sundays) 1pm – 4pm |
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web links
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books & video
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book:
"Weird Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey & Richard D. Hendricks
Barnes & Noble Books (2005)
page(s) 174 – 175
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Weird U.S."
by Mark Sceurman & Mark Moran
Sterling (2004)
page(s) 168
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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book:
"Wisconsin Curiosities"
by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004) page(s) 197 – 198
(3rd ed., 2009) page(s) 186 –189
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001)
page(s) 38 – 39
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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book:
"Sacred Spaces and Other Places"
by Lisa Stone and Jim Zanzi
School of Art Inst. of Chicago Press (1993)
page(s) 94 – 103
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Great Little Museums of the Midwest"
by Christine Des Garennes
Trails Books (2002)
page(s) 31 – 34
buy it at
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book:
"Naives and Visionaries"
by Walker Art Center / E.P. Dutton
Walker Art Center (1974)
page(s) 70 – 75
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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book:
"Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations"
by Randy Mason, Mike Murphy & Don Mayberger
Kansas City Star Books (2002)
page(s) 54 – 55
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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book:
"Midwest Marvels"
by Eric Dregni
UofM Press (2006)
page(s) 362 – 363
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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book:
"Miracles of The Spirit: Folk, Art, and Stories from Wisconsin"
by Don Krug & Ann Parker
University Press of Mississippi (2005)
page(s) 165, 272
buy it at
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“Herman Rusch's Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden ”
video by jmkac2011
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"In 1995, a 55-ton boulder came to rest in the middle of a waterbed in the bedroom of this home in Fountain City. Nearly a century before, in 1902, a huge boulder landed in almost the same place. The most recent boulder still rests where it crash-landed."
– section from Explore Wisconsin website
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Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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440 North Shore Dr. (Highway 35)
Fountain City, WI 54629
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hours:
April thru December (daily) 10am – 6pm |
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Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com
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Great River
www.greatriver.com
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Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com
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Thom.org
www.thom.org
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book:
"Weird Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey & Richard D. Hendricks
Barnes & Noble Books (2005)
page(s) 188
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Wisconsin Curiosities"
by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004) page(s) 203 – 204
(3rd ed., 2009) page(s) 194 – 195
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001)
page(s) 40
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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book:
"Midwest Marvels"
by Eric Dregni
UofM Press (2006)
page(s) 361 – 362
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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"With hundreds of muscle, antique, and classic cars and trucks as well as pedal cars and thousands of antique toys, tools, and dolls, Elmer's Auto & Toy Museum is one of the largest museums of its kind in the country and a fantastic attraction every family member will enjoy! Family owned and operated since 1994, Elmer's Museum is located on Eagle Bluff, which is the highest point along the Mississippi River. The view of the river valley is one of the best in the area!"
– section from Explore Wisconsin website
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Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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(Take Highway 95 east in Fountain City, then turn north onto County Road G, then turn off after ¼ mile on Elmers Road.)
W903 Elmers Rd.
Fountain City, WI 54629
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hours:
9am – 5pm on alternate weekends (call for schedule) |
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Official Site
www.elmersautoandtoymuseum.com
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Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com
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book:
"Weird Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey & Richard D. Hendricks
Barnes & Noble Books (2005)
page(s) 199
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Wisconsin Curiosities"
by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004) page(s) 204 – 205
(3rd ed., 2009) page(s) 196
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Dennis McCann Takes You For A Ride"
by Dennis McCann
The Guest Cottage Incorporated (1999)
page(s) 40 – 43
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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book:
"Great Little Museums of the Midwest"
by Christine Des Garennes
Trails Books (2002)
page(s) 28 – 30
buy it at
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Big Viking Statue
at the Viking Motel
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location: Cochrane
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| roadside oddity |
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(above) Crossing the Mob: the fatal flaw of the Norsemen.
(left) Hopefully no one attempts to hang a large purse from his left arm, |
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A 15' tall Scandinavian warrior stands outside the motel, facing westward into Minnesota with his feet imbedded in the cement. Insert your own professional football-related theories here.
2013 UPDATE: The Viking has lost his round shield due to either a fierce battle or fierce winds. The truth is unclear. |
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675 N River Rd.
Cochrane, WI 54622
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| Somebody check to see if the neighbor kids were using his shield to slide down the nearby bluffs last winter. |
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Roadside Architecture
www.agilitynut.com
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Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com
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book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001)
page(s) 36 – 37
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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| Fountain City Rock Garden |
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location: Fountain City / Cochrane
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| roadside attraction / outsider artist / yard art |
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| Once, a beautiful rock sculpture garden was visible from the sidewalk in front of John & Bertha Mehringer's home on Jefferson Street in downtown Fountain City. The stone-crafted structures were built between 1933 and 1935, and could have been lost forever had it not been for the generosity of Bill & Gwen Katula for donating the crumbling sculptures to the Kohler Foundation. Now the remaining items have been restored and are displayed at the Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden. |
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Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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on the grounds of the Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden (listed above) |
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hours:
Gardens: open daily during the summer.
Museum: Memorial Day weekend thru Labor Day weekend
(Sundays) 1pm – 4pm |
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Hanson's Yard Sculptures
PRIVATE PROPERTY
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location: Nelson
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| yard art / outsider artist |
| There are several homemade concrete statues of Indians and cartoon characters in the resident's yard. |
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Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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(just north of town off of Highway 25)
S1059 Mill Rd.
Nelson, WI 54756
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book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001)
page(s) 51
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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| Giant Embedded Arrow |
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Fuel Tank Cow
at Hansen's Hold-up Bar & Grill
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location: Arcadia (Trempealeau County)
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| roadside oddity / business with character / dairy pride |
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| These two oddities are next to Hansen's Hold-Up Bar & Grill, which offers spectacular views of the area and a ton of western-themed memorabilia. The cow may have a couple of siblings hiding out in Pierce, Burnett & Eau Claire counties. |
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Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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(6 miles west of Arcadia on Highway 95)
S2428 State Highway 95
Arcadia, WI 54612
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hours:
April thru November:
(Fridays) 4 – 9pm / (Saturdays) |
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Official Site
www.hansensholdup.com
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Arcadia Official Site
www.arcadiawi.org
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Wisconsin Motorcycling
www.wisconsinmotorcycling.com
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location: Alma
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| aquatic engineering |
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"Lock and Dam No. 4 is located in Alma, Wisconsin at the river mile 752.8. This important link in the "step" system of the upper Mississippi 9 foot navigation channel annually locks through thousands of vessels, ranging from commodity laden tows to small pleasure craft and canoes...The lock is 600 feet long by 110 feet wide and raises and lowers traffic 7 feet. The dam is 6,867 feet long, including 1,367 feet of moveable gate sections and 5,500 feet of earth fill dike...A platform has been built overlooking the lock for better handicap access.""
– section from Alma official website
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on west side of Highway 35 (S Main St.) in downtown Alma |
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hours:
public observation platform hours:
dawn until dusk from April to November |
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Alma Official Site
www.almawisconsin.com
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US Army Corps of Engineers
www.mvp.usace.army.mil
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“Best View in Wisconsin from a Small City”
video by northpith
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Horse Statue by Highway
at Lazy L Tack & Trailer Sales
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location: Mondovi
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| roadside oddity |
| Good rule of thumb: the closer proximity of a roadside statue to the road versus the further distance to any nearby structure increases its worthiness on this website. |
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W365 US Highway 10
Mondovi, WI 54755
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location: Alma
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| urban oddity |
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As you drive through Alma, you may catch a glimpse of a shop or restaurant you wish to investigate. Too late, you just passed it. Let's just go around the block so I can park right in front of that store, you think. So, you spot a street sign up ahead and flip on your turn signal. As you execute the turn onto what you thought was a side street, a jolt of realization hits you like a ice-packed snowball: I'm driving up a pedestrian staircase. This and many more sensations are available in beautiful Alma.
"Alma has 10 steep staircases that connect Main Street with Second Street. Each is identified by a street sign and provides an excellent source of exercise while enjoying the scenery."
– section from Alma official website
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about 1 block apart from each other along Alma's Main Street.
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Alma Official Site
1. www.almawisconsin.com
2. www.almawisconsin.com
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Gentle Art of Wandering
www.gentleartofwandering.com
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Winona Daily News
article "Alma moves forward on plans to renovate one historic staircase" or archived (here)
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WXOW-Channel 19
article "Alma tries to repair historic stairs" or archived (here)
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Big River Theater
home of the BIG RIVER RADIO WAVE
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location: Alma
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| historic structure / variety show |
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| Nestled in the heart of charming downtown Alma is the Big River Theater. Audiences cananticipate an intimate setting since the 1890 structure holds a maximum of 100 theatergoers. In addition to the regularly scheduled concerts, films and public discussions that take place here is the Big River Radio Wave: a combination of music, comedy & storytelling performed by notable Wisconsin entertainers, which is broadcast at a later date on Wisconsin Public Radio. |
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121 South Main Street
Alma, WI 54610
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Big Bird Statue
at the Backwaters Hotel Bar & Grill
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location: Nelson
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| roadside oddity |
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| Even armed with a broken liquor bottle, an altercation with the bird results in a messy ending for this poor chap. |
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| This broken-beaked...what is it? A blue heron?...anyway, this broken-beaked bird stands eye-to-eye with most of the customers that enter the establishment. |
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S700 State Road 25
Nelson, WI 54756
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Haugen's Rock Wall
PRIVATE PROPERTY
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location: Mondovi
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| roadside oddity / yard art |
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| Charles Haugen has a impressive border to his driveway, constructed of stone, concrete, and bric-a-brac. |
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166 Riverside Ave W.
Mondovi, WI 54755
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"Come and see actual Arms and Armor from the Dark Ages, the Crusades, and the days of the valorous Renaissance "Knight in Shining Armor." Your visit is enriched by art prints by artists such as Rembrandt and Albrecht Durer which show the arms and armor in their historical context. There is much to see, so start planning your visit to Castlerock Museum today!"
– section from the official website
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Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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402 South Second Street
Alma, WI 54610
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hours:
(Friday & Saturday) 1pm – 4pm |
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| Schlosstein Concrete Gardens |
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location: Cochrane / Fountain City
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| roadside attraction / yard art / outsider artist |
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In 2002, a new exhibit was added to the Prairie Moon Museum. A depression era collection of miniature concrete and indigenous stone buildings modeled after actual buildings in Cochrane, Wisconsin, have been donated to the site. Created by self-taught artist Fred Schlosstein (), the village of eighteen buildings has been carefully restored with the assistance of Kohler Foundation. The buildings had been kept in the family and were donated by the artist's grandson and his wife, Gary and Shelby Schlosstein. An outdoor installation of more Schlosstein sculptures was added in 2008.
– section from Kohler Foundation website
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Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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on the grounds of the Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden (listed above) |
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hours:
Gardens: open daily during the summer.
Museum: Memorial Day weekend thru Labor Day weekend
(Sundays) 1pm – 4pm |
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location: Mondovi
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| accommodations with character |
| This renovated barn boasts plenty of comfortable space, many sleeping options, a deck with a hot tub and a distinct lack of bovinus excretus. There is also a cozy bungalow nearby for those folks who may be a bit agoraphobic. Fire-grilled pizzas are served on Wednesday nights and you don't even have to bale hay or pick stones to get a slice. The barn can also be rented for events. |
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S 683 Lovely Road
Mondovi, WI 54755
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Facebook (official)
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Barn Again Lodge Happenings (blog)
barnagainlodge.blogspot.com
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location: Mondovi
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| intriguing town name |
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| One may wonder why the town was so named. Was there once a lookout tower in the area? Is there a nearby bluff or hilltop that was used in the past as a lookout post? Did someone yell it out loud as a warning to someone else who was in danger and the name stuck? (Create your own humorous scenario here) |
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Lookout is in the town of Dover on Highway 121
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| Waumandee Country Store is the quintessential small town everything-you-need general store. Not only do they provide road trip sustenance, but they take care of your dry cleaning, slice fresh deli meat, compare paint swatches, offer a selection of booze, promote locally made crafts, peddle freshly-scooped ice cream and process your deer into venison. This, of course, only scratches the surface. An adjoining room, festooned with an old-fashioned jukebox and Elvis paraphernalia serves as the coffee shop. Place your pin on the visitor's map next to the guest book and marvel at how stores used to do business: by specializing in nothing. |
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S2017 County Road U
Waumandee, WI 54622
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hours:
(Mon - Fri) 8am – 5:30pm / (Saturday) 9am – 5pm
(Sunday) open seasonally (call if needed) |
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Stone Sculptures in Yard
PRIVATE PROPERTY
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location: Waumandee
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| outsider artist / yard art |
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| Several sculptures stand in a yard belonging to the descendants of the artist, who died in the 1940's. He had lost one of his arms in a farming accident before creating the stone lighthouse, church, Catholic shrine, wishing well, baskets and other works on display. The family intends to keep all of these items on their property and have worked to restore and preserve the sculptures. One stone fountain graces the lawn behind a church in town. |
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S1999 County Road U
Waumandee, WI 54622
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| The Beast of the Red Ram Saloon |
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location: Alma
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| odd art / tavern with character |
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Saturday afternoon... The bar is crowded with tourists, bikers, and thirsty locals taking advantage of the establishment's tap beer and signature bloody marys. The chatter is sometimes jovial, sometimes muttered, other times spoken in casual tones devoid of any outward signs of anxiety. Yet no one dares look above. No one glimpses toward the ceiling near the men's room door, for there hovers the Beast. From where it came, it is unknown. Why it chose that particular spot in a popular tavern to lurk puzzles many. Its intentions toward humans are unclear, but an unspoken message fills each patron with subtle dread. Once, a particularly bold soul walking into the lavatory callously slapped the Beast's boot. He never returned from powdering his nose and his motorcycle was found torn into twisted fragments atop a nearby bluff. The Beast was not seen to cause anyone harm that night or any other, but it is understood that it will brook no disrespect.... Also, everyone pretends not to notice when the Beast plays loud Elton John tunes on its organ.
"What the hell are you talking about? That ugly thing hanging on the wall? What's the hell's the matter with you?"
– section from slurred quote spoken by man half-slumped over on barstool
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207 N Main St.
Alma, WI 54610
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| When you have a substantial amount of devotion to the glory of Lambeau, you need to express it. Here we see yet another homeowner subtly displaying their loyalty to the boys in green and gold. |
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893 S. Eau Claire St.
Mondovi, WI 54755
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| The Prairie Moon museum houses an assortment of items from the era when Herman Reusch managed both the property and his sculptures. You will see hand-made signs and other personal artifacts made and used by Herman. The late Fountain City artist Fred Schlosstein's miniature village is housed inside the museum as well. The building is a growing collection of local historical items, being added to whenever possible. |
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Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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on the grounds of the Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden (listed above) |
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hours:
open by appointment |
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Bookmark the Wisconsinosity home page! wisconsinosity.com
505 South 2nd Street
