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| Rhinelander, Home of the Hodag
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| Giant Hodag Statue
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location: Rhinelander |
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self-
designation / roadside oddity / local lore / fictional creature |
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In 1896,
Rhinelander native, timber cruiser and famed trickster Gene Shepard used
the legend of the Hodag as a hoax on his
fellow citizens. The beast is now the symbol of the city itself. |
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"The
animal's back resembled that of a dinosaur, and his tail, which
extended to an enormous length, had a spearlike end. Sharp
spines, one and a half feet apart, lined the spinal
column. The legs were short and massive, and the claws
were thick and curved, denoting great strength. The broad,
furrowed forehead was covered with coarse, shaggy hair and bore
two large horns. From the broad, muscular mouth, sharp,
glistening white teeth protruded."
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section from the
book "Wisconsin Lore" |
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From Highway 8 (Kemp Street) just west of the Wisconsin River,
turn north onto Sutliff Avenue. The statue is in front of the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce.
450 West Kemp Street
Rhinelander, WI 54501
(800) 236-4386
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 web links
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books
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Grave of Coach John Heisman
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The
namesake of the college football trophy is buried here in his wife's
hometown. Heisman
Quote:
"What is this? It is a prolate spheroid, an elongated sphere in
which the outer leather casing is drawn tightly over a somewhat smaller
rubber tubing.
Better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." |
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Forest Home Cemetery
650 Washington St.
Rhinelander, WI 54501
(715) 362-4172
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Find-A-Grave
www.findagrave.com
book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press,
Inc. (2001)
page 21
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at
Barnes
& Noble.com
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location: Rhinelander |
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roadside
oddity / green-and- gold pride |
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224 Sutliff Ave.
Rhinelander, WI 54501
From Highway 8 (Kemp Street) just west of the Wisconsin River,
turn north onto Sutliff Avenue. Follow for four or five
blocks. House is on west side of street.
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Hodag on Roof
at Judy's Hodag Bar
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was
at: 1415 Lincoln St.
Rhinelander, WI 54501
(715) 362-5594
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Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com
Rhinelander Daily News
1. article "Hodag
Bar closes after 77 year history" or (here)
2. article "One
Last Day" or (here)
3. article "More
Hodags prowling the logging museum" or (here)
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Hodag Cowboy
Statue
in front of Hodag Pump & Pantry
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This
version of the Hodag seems fitting as the city of Rhinelander plays host to the
annual Hodag Country Music Festival. |
1505 N Stevens St.
Rhinelander, WI 54501
(715) 362-4000
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Hodag
Country Festival
www.hodag.com |
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Hodags of the Rhinelander Logging Museum |
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A
one-of-a-kind collection is housed inside the museum's
entryway. Hodag carvings and artwork dominate this space,
but there are a few other examples scattered about the museum's
grounds. |
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Museum
is also listed in the History
section below. |
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located in Pioneer Park
off Highway 8 (Oneida Ave.) on Martin Lynch Drive
(715) 369-5004
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hours:
Memorial Day thru Labor Day (daily) 10am – 5pm
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Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce
www.rhinelanderchamber.com
Rhinelander Daily News
article "More
Hodags prowling the logging museum" or (here)
Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com
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Wood-Carved
Hodag
in front of Century 21 Pine Point Realty
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God loves all Hodags,
great and small. |
1226 Lincoln St.
Rhinelander, WI 54501
(715) 365-6000
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Official
Site
www.pinepointrealty.com
Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com
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Hodag Park
bears a Wisconsin State Historical Marker detailing the history of the
Hodag. "This
mythical creature is the official symbol of Rhinelander. It was created
in 1896 by 'Gene' Shepard, Rhinelander pioneer timber cruiser and famous
parnkster. Shepard claimed to have discovered the animal in the woods
near Rice Creek. He "captured" it by blocking the mouth of its
den with rocks and rendering it unconscious with a chloroformed sponge
on a long pole. Actually fashioned by a skilled woodcarver name Luke
Kearney, the original Hodag was seven feet long and thirty inches high,
black and hairy, with two horns on its head, twelve horns along its
spine, and short powerful legs armed with long claws. For years Shepard
exhibited the Hodag at county fairs in a dimly lighted tent, controlling
its movements with wires. Many spectators believed the animal was real.
Shepard would assure them that he had captured it on 'Section 37' and
that it ate 'nothing but white bulldogs and those only on
Sundays'."
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inscription
on marker |
on Hodag Park Drive along the Rhinelander Flowage
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Rhinelander
Chamber of Commerce
www.rhinelanderchamber.com
Wisconsin Historical Society
www.wisconsinhistory.org
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Giant Axe &
Cant Hook
at the Rhinelander Logging Museum
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"Made
by Frank Kysely (12 May 1896 - 6 Aug 1975) He lumberjacked in the
Rhinelander area during the 20s & 30s"
- from
sign accompanying exhibit |
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Museum is listed in the History
section below. |
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Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce
www.rhinelanderchamber.com
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Paul Bunyan's
Jack Knife
at the Rhinelander Logging Museum
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But what
did Paul use to carve the wooden knife? |
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Museum is listed in the
History
section below. |
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Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce
www.rhinelanderchamber.com
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Bookmark the Wisconsinosity home page! 
on north side of road at the intersection of Lincoln Street &
Driscoll Road
located in Pioneer Park
