slutigram: May 2014

The last time we visited Wisconsin was in the summer of 1985 (Anne visited on a school trip while in high school) . Elaine & I met up with Anne for one week of our 2 week stay in Wisconsin Dells. Another attraction to the Dells was that my second cousin Gary and his wife (also Elaine) live nearby. Besides that, there are many interesting things to see and do in the area.

Wisconsin Dells is a tourist town located in the south central part of the state. While it has a permanent population of less that 5,600, during the summer the temporary employees and tourists swell this to several multiples. It location makes easy side trips to several other areas of this beautiful state.

Let’s start with the Dells. The best way to see the Dells is on one of those amphibious “Duck” boats that seem to be in many tourist areas (Even saw some in London). After WW II, there were thousands upon thousands of DUKW (aka Duck) boats looking for a home. Over 21,000 were manufactured by General Motors during the war years and they saw action in both theaters of the war. In 1946,the Ducks came to the Dells as a way to let tourists easily access the natural beauty of the area. The local fleet has been up to 90 in number. Several have been used for parts over the years to keep the fleet running.

The ride takes you through a pine forest before splashing into the Wisconsin River. See www.wisconsinducktours.com for more info and pictures. The river cuts through the limestone bedrock forming the dells.

In 1927, a private dam on the Wisconsin River at the Dells created the 250 acre Lake Delton. In 2008, heavy rains resulted in the river finding a way around the dam, draining the lake in less than 2 hours. This was not good for tourism. In 2009, a new dam was built with government aid and Lake Delton once again is in existence.

The Ho-Chunk (known elsewhere as the Winnebago) tribe lived In this area. The U.S. government tried to relocate the tribe to Nebraska and Iowa. Chief Yellow Thunder did not go for this and walked back to Wisconsin Dells on three different occasions. Today, the Ho-Chunk tribe still resides in the area due to the persistence of this chief. The local casino is a tribal operation. Elaine & I think we should be inducted into the tribe for all the financial support we gave to the casino during our stay in the Dells. A memorial to Yellow Thunder is right off one of the main roads. It isn't in the best of repair, unfortunately.

H. H. Bennett had a photography studio in the Dells founded in 1865 after he was mustered out of the army due to an injury to his hand. The studio still stands and serves as a private museum to Mr. Bennett. It is chock full of a well-organized exhibit of early Wisconsin Dells. He focused on the natural beauty and the native Americans of that era. His original cameras are also displayed, which were made by him (except for the lenses).

If it is Wisconsin, there has to be cheese. Cheese shops are ubiquitous. We stopped and enjoyed the product at several stores. Fresh cheese curds are delicious.

Within an hour’s drive there are several places of interest. We took in several of them.

The Mid-Continent Railway Museum of New Freedom, Wisconsin has an extensive collection of railway memorabilia and rolling stock. The railroad came to this part of the state to transport iron from local mines. Passenger service followed for a while. Today, the line runs its own tourist train for a short ride on these magnificent cars. These signs are readable if you click on and enlarge the photo; all pictures can be enlarged, of course.

Here is what the equipment looks like when they first get it. Actually, this engine is in pretty good shape as compared to some other equipment on hand.

Winters are rough up here and to keep the rails open required big plows and a very large snow-blower.

Baraboo (next town from the Dells) is the home of the International Crane Foundation (the bird, not the equipment). Gary’s wife, Elaine, is a volunteer there and she arranged a tour of the facility that it open to tourists. Thanks, it was a great tour. The photos that I took there were the basis of the website that I designed for a class that I attended in 2013 fall semester at UNK. To learn about these beautiful birds go to: www.lopers.net/faculty/unknet/slutid/index.html

I’ll not repeat what is on my website, rather I’ll tell you what you will see at the foundation. It is open to the public and details their role in saving the 15 species of cranes from extinction. A representative of each of the 15 species is held here (the only place in the world having all 15). A sign by each pen tells you something about the that crane. Pretty good gift shop too.

A very eccentric young man by the name of Alex Jordan built his home atop a large boulder that he used to climb up when he was a child. All through his life he built and built and collected and collected all sorts of things. It opened to the public in 1960 as “The House on the Rock”. Plan on spending at least a full day here. The stuff he collected has to be seen to be believed (sorry for the cliché). First photo is a part of the house known as the “Infinity Room”, which juts out over the Wisconsin forest.

The grounds are packed full of interesting things and well-presented gardens. The urn is about 8 feet tall, with another 3 foot at the base.

His collections include:

Tiffany glassware;

self-playing musical instruments;

As part of the admission price, you are given several tokens. These tokens are used to operate the instruments. There are enough people using their tokens that you can listen to all of these unique creations.

This was the most complex of the self-playing instruments. I used one of my tokens on this and watched each of the dozens of instruments in operation. The maintenance on these must be a full time job.

carousel items, to include the largest wooden carousel in existence;

an extensive collection of Oriental items;

paperweights (paperweights? who collects them?);

old firearms;

glassware;

Faberge eggs;

farm machinery;

model boats;

scrimshaw;

while not life-sized, even the Titanic is represented;

some very eccentric items. I suppose this is what happened to some scrimshaw aficionados, slurp.

I'm sure I have an octopus' garden somewhere in our storage room.

Some say my 1978 Ford is akin to this mode of transport.

Do you ever feel somewhat manipulated like these marionettes;

masks;

original Burma shave signs (I remember them from my youth);

circus memorabilia;

The Crown Jewels of Great Britain (replica),

and much, much more. You get the idea, this guy had a problem focusing and I'm glad that he did. Anyways, it was a wonderful day and I’d recommend this place to any visitor. You can imagine how large this house must be just to hold all this stuff.

On to our next adventure in Wisconsin. . .

Looking through the tourist literature before coming to Wisconsin, I ran across a mention of an unusual museum that we just had to see: The National Mustard Museum, located just west of Madison. Yes, there seems to be a museum for anything and everything. Not surprisingly, unless there is another Alex Jordan (see House on the Rock) out there, they claim to be the world’s largest collection of mustard and mustard memorabilia. In 1992, Barry Levenson left his job as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Wisconsin to found this great institution. There are more than 5,400 different mustards from all 50 states and more than 70 other nations. You can attend Mustard Piece Theater, taste over 500 mustards (I do not think anyone has ever done this on one visit). The staff has a great sense of humor about this place. Take your time and enjoy these photos, all taken at the National Museum of Mustard. The states and countries pictured all have special meaning to us.

Beside Elaine is my cousin Gary and his wife, also Elaine.

Once in the door, it is all mustard,

and more mustard.

Famous mustard man comic strip - what you don't recall it?

You can learn all about mustard types here.

My many friends and relatives in South Dakota will recognize these brands.

These come from our state of residence. I don't remember ever seeing any of them in our stores.

Two states here. Colorado, where our good friends Jim & Sandy live, and my state of birth (Connecticut).

In 1999 and 2003,I spent a few months in this interesting central European nation (Czech).

Our niece Karen and her lovely family live near Lisbon.

Good friends Kim & Pierre live in Paris.

Then there is the famous musical starring Julie Andrews.

What, you have never seen a mustard vending machine. Where have you been?

This is for the more academically inclined.

Probably the most popular USA mustard (but not the best in my mind).

Some people will collect most anything.

From the land down unda.

My brother James' wife's homeland.

We so enjoyed this museum that we held a mustard party when we returned to Kearney.

Madison is the capitol of Wisconsin and merited a visit to the State Capitol Building. This is the 3^rd capitol building, built between 1906 and 1917. It is constructed of 43 varieties of stone from around the world. Like many state capitols, it has a dome (Nebraska, Louisiana and Hawaii do not have domes – there may be others) decorated with murals. The granite dome is topped by the gilded statue of “Wisconsin”. Hourly tours are given and are free and worth your time.

This mural is on the inside of the dome. I have a pretty good zoom lens, as it is not very visible to the unaided eye.

These are just a few of the many murals adorning the walls of the building.

Wisconsin is known as the badger state, not necessarily because badgers are so numerous. The story goes that the original settlers lived in caves that they dug out along the rivers (just like badgers). Nicknames do stick don’t they? The capitol has its resident badger.

If you look closely (or have the guide point it out), you will find several fossils in the stone of the capitol. Here is an ammonite seen in the House wall.

Across the street from the capitol is the Wisconsin Historical Museum, which was graced by our presence. Exhibits tout Wisconsin as the home of the Progressive movement. Which is socialism under a different name.

Also exhibits tout the agricultural and manufacturing basis of the state’s economy. Home of Harley Davidson and American Motors (R.I.P.)

When Anne came, she flew to Milwaukee, where we picked her up. We went early so as to get a feel for the city, sample its beer and brats and tour Miller Brewing Company. A very good tour and they are generous with the free beer after the tour. It all started in the 1800s in this building

Tours are every half-hour and you don't need to have a reservation. If you have to wait there is a very well-stocked gift shop.

A professional photographer takes your photo in the hope of selling you it at the end of the tour. We just asked her to take a photo using our camera, and she did!

Miller was one of the largest U.S. breweries. It is now part of the S.A.B. (South African Brewery) family and as you may surmise by the name, is no longer USA owned. Here is what the inside of the operation looks like:

First you roast the barley; then add water; then the hops and cook it in these large copper vats.