Posts Tagged ‘prairie du sac’

A sign that says “Help Bring The Bradford Bison Home” is still stuck to the wall outside the Tripp Memorial Museum in Sauk Prairie.  It’s now been over 5 years since Joshua Bradford, then age 7, discovered the partial skull and intact horns of an extinct Bison occidentalis (Buffalo to the rest of us..) estimated to be at least 5,000 years old. At the time, the horns were sent to Madison to be dated. It was assumed that they would then be returned to Sauk Prairie to be put on display for the whole community.

Of course once it was realized that the boy’s discovery had real value, the adults began to wrangle over ownership and other such “grown-up” issues.  From 2005 onward the artifact has rarely been seen by anyone.  A resolution of sorts came when there was a decision that Alliant Energy owned the horns because they own the dam on the Wisconsin river near where the artifact was discovered.  They then donated them back to the local historical society.

The Sauk Prairie Area Historical Society is now working to bring the Bradford Bison back to Sauk Prairie where it will finally made available to everyone.  The problem now?  Well, money of course.  The building housing the Tripp Memorial Museum in Sauk Prairie is over 100 years old and in need of some maintenance. According to their website, after discussions with Laura Halverson, a curator at the University of Wisconsin Zoological Museum, the museum needs to invest about $25,000 into repairs and upgrades before they will be able to bring the artifact back to the community in which it was found. Even when the money is available, it will take some time to get the work done before we actually see the return of the Bradford Bison. The sad part of all this,  is that the boy who made the historic find in the first place could practically be an adult by the time his find is returned. A great lesson in how the adult world works I suppose.

We’re not talking about massive sums of money here to protect Sauk Prairie’s history for everyone to share. They look like they are about half way so far, let’s hope that it won’t be another 5 years before those who can, come up with the rest.

• Tripp Memorial Museum – Learn More & Donate
• Boy, 7, Makes Stunning Archaeological Discovery - Wisconsin Historical Society
• Bradford Bison will return to Sauk Prairie – WN

Two Modern Day Buffalo on a farm near Baraboo, WI.

The Blue Spoon Café in Sauk Prairie, WI., calls itself, “a casual Euro style restaurant offering “food with personality”.  The downtown restaurant offers soup, sandwiches and gelatos along with lattes, teas and a solid wine list.  I know you’re wondering what “Euro style” means and we’re thinking it means something like, “cheeseburgers & chips cost more than 8 bucks”. Still, you get what you pay for as they say…   Read the rest of this entry »

Workers are busy putting the finishing touches on the new Veteran’s Memorial display at the Sauk Prairie airport just in time for this Saturday’s fly-in event.  There will be a Fly-in/drive in breakfast from 7 to 11am. At 11am the new memorial display will be dedicated. Lunch will follow. Throughout the day (7am to 4pm) there will be a huge Mega Flea market, scenic airplane and helicopter rides, kids games, K-9 agility demonstrations and more. According to signs posted yesterday, drivers are asked to pay just $1 for parking.

For More Information Visit: www.saukprairieairport.com

Map (Event location marked by blue plane)

View Baraboo Area Travel Guide in a larger map

American Bald Eagle on the Baraboo River, Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Bald Eagle watching days are coming up in Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin beginning with a 7pm presentation by David Stokes called “Fun with Animals” on Friday, January 15th.  The following day, Saturday, January 16th, there will be a variety of exhibits and events around Sauk Prairie including presentations on eagle conservation efforts in Wisconsin, an Eagle Wine wine tasting at Wollershiem winery and hourly bus tours out to see the stars of the festival as well.  Every year the annual Eagle Watching Days festival offers a great opportunity for families to break the often claustrophobic habits of winter and just get out and enjoy nature and community.

Now, the guy in today’s picture is a Baraboo Eagle.  I took his portrait about an hour ago actually. I counted 15 in the 20 minutes or so I spent down by the river.  Suddenly this winter Sauk Prairie isn’t the only place to see these magnificent birds.

Related:

• 2010 Eagle Days Events
• Ferry Bluff Eagle Council
• Wisconsin DNR Eagle Information