The Driftless Historium
Our Vision: We believe that the unique cultural, natural and intellectual histories of the Mount Horeb area have the ability to inspire a realization of a shared human condition and empower those we serve to find their place in a world of inherent change and diversity.
Our Mission: The Mount Horeb Area Historical Society collects, preserves and makes accessible the physical remnants of the human and natural history of the Mount Horeb area for the purpose of sharing the broader histories and prehistories of America through this localized lens.
The Newest Americans : New Citizens Reflect on What America Means to Them
The Newest Americans : New Citizens Reflect on What America Means to Them
The Newest Americans : New Citizens Reflect on What America Means to Them
The Newest Americans : New Citizens Reflect on What America Means to Them
"The Blue Mounds are two prominent bedrock hills in the Driftless Area near the border of Dane and Iowa Counties. They are the highest points on the landscape in southern Wisconsin—300 to 500 feet above the rest of the terrain in this area. Both mounds are composed of shale and dolomite. Although shale is a fairly weak rock, the west mound looms above the surrounding landscape because it is capped by an approximately 100-foot-thick layer of dolomite that has lots of chert, which is extremely hard and resistant to erosion. Layers, called strata, of dolomite may have once covered much of southern Wisconsin, but were later eroded from all but the tops of these and several other mounds in far southwestern Wisconsin. Chert (also called flint) was used by Native Americans to make the arrowheads and tools that are found in the many archeological sites in the area." from Wisconsin Geological & Natural History Survey
A small memento once sold to visitors to Blue Mounds.
Matt Geiger, author of “Astonishing Tales”
Unveiling his new book on Friday, November 30th, 2018 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Driftless Historium & Mount Horeb Area Historical Society
The Mt. Horeb Area Historical Society Our Vision: We believe that the unique cultural, natural and intellectual histories of the Mount Horeb area have the ability to inspire a realization of a shared human condition and empower those we serve to find their place in a world of inherent change and diversity. Our Mission: The Mount Horeb Area Historical Society collects, preserves and makes accessible the physical remnants of the human and natural history of the Mount Horeb area for the purpose of sharing the broader histories and prehistories of America through this localized lens.
The Mt. Horeb Area Historical Society Our Vision: We believe that the unique cultural, natural and intellectual histories of the Mount Horeb area have the ability to inspire a realization of a shared human condition and empower those we serve to find their place in a world of inherent change and diversity. Our Mission: The Mount Horeb Area Historical Society collects, preserves and makes accessible the physical remnants of the human and natural history of the Mount Horeb area for the purpose of sharing the broader histories and prehistories of America through this localized lens.
The Mt. Horeb Area Historical Society Our Vision: We believe that the unique cultural, natural and intellectual histories of the Mount Horeb area have the ability to inspire a realization of a shared human condition and empower those we serve to find their place in a world of inherent change and diversity. Our Mission: The Mount Horeb Area Historical Society collects, preserves and makes accessible the physical remnants of the human and natural history of the Mount Horeb area for the purpose of sharing the broader histories and prehistories of America through this localized lens.
The Mt. Horeb Area Historical Society Our Vision: We believe that the unique cultural, natural and intellectual histories of the Mount Horeb area have the ability to inspire a realization of a shared human condition and empower those we serve to find their place in a world of inherent change and diversity. Our Mission: The Mount Horeb Area Historical Society collects, preserves and makes accessible the physical remnants of the human and natural history of the Mount Horeb area for the purpose of sharing the broader histories and prehistories of America through this localized lens.
It was indeed an ANGRY BEAVER day! So many frustrating "life" things all happening at once. Then there's knowing know one will ever know I spent hours setting up this shot. Hours spent modifying how light comes out of the five flashes that I painstakingly placed "just so." Shaping their effects into razor edges to just touch certain edges will never be noticed. Few will note the ever tightening spirals in the composition. "It's only a photograph. Anyone can take that shot." Friggin beaver... Why so edgy? It was a struggle to not just blast it with hammers of light. But as a well versed man in taming an angry beaver I knew a little "calm, heated finesse" was all it'd take. Artist: John Pahlas
Guardian of the River Sculpture by John Pahlas Model: Jesi Ostrowsky
We countered darkness through the shear act of creation. This town mourns from repeated tragedies. We embraced each other, sharing the grief and continue on in spite of the darkness. He found solace in the arc of heat that bound the metals together. I in the spark of light that illuminated the act of creation. This is not about us. It's not about the shear heartache over so much pain in so many families. It's simply about the very act of creating. Countering. No surrendering.
I've been leaving for work earlier these days. I take the "back way." My local region is filled with little meandering valleys. There are a few "loops" I can make on my way to the Cave. I've really come to love the terrain. There are hidden little side valleys all over the place. The morning fog rises out of them to mingle with the clouds. It's cool, lush and wet in the dim morning light. As I drive slowly along I can hear all the birds and see wildlife. And occasionally I'll stop to take a photo.
What an incredible morning I've been having. Author Matt Geiger, his daughter and I went on an artistic adventure into Cave of the Mounds. He needed a photo to go along with an article that will soon be published in Northerly Quarterly. The title of which is 'The Cave,' and I highly recommend reading it when it comes out soon. No spoilers from me. I just happened to be off today, and also work in a cave so naturally it all came together. Getting to be artistic in a place that has effected me in such significant ways was a true delight. I cannot even begin to express how much I enjoyed setting up and taking this photograph today. Some people go golfing on their days off, me, I want to spend time creating. Something. Then I go back to work where I find I am drawing on that which shapes me as an artist. As I told Matt today, when I get to do what I do, and then sink back into this amazing place that is Cave of the Mounds it is as if fresh waters flush out the sediment in the caverns of my soul. And in those dark places crystals are now growing formations. I am truly a blessed man.
Elliott Funmaker, Sr. and his family conducted a cultural demonstration of Ho-Chunk Nation traditions at the Driftless Historium in Mount Horeb. They shared their rich heritage with many details about the regalia that they wear, as well as the significant meaning of the songs and dances. They also explained the symbolism of objects and actions, such the drum itself and the beat they played on it. It was an informative peek into the culture of the native people of this Driftless Area. One that will helps ensure their traditional heritage is not soon forgotten. #wisconsindellssingers #funmaker #Ho-Chunk #HoChunkNation #HoChunk_Nation #Historium #Driftless_Historium #DriftlessHistorium #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #naturalwisconsin #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #redditig #culture #heritage #traditional #traditions
Elliott Funmaker, Sr. and his family conducted a cultural demonstration of Ho-Chunk Nation traditions at the Driftless Historium in Mount Horeb. They shared their rich heritage with many details about the regalia that they wear, as well as the significant meaning of the songs and dances. They also explained the symbolism of objects and actions, such the drum itself and the beat they played on it. It was an informative peek into the culture of the native people of this Driftless Area. One that will helps ensure their traditional heritage is not soon forgotten. #wisconsindellssingers #funmaker #Ho-Chunk #HoChunkNation #HoChunk_Nation #Historium #Driftless_Historium #DriftlessHistorium #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #naturalwisconsin #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #redditig #culture #heritage #traditional #traditions
Elliott Funmaker, Sr. and his family conducted a cultural demonstration of Ho-Chunk Nation traditions at the Driftless Historium in Mount Horeb. They shared their rich heritage with many details about the regalia that they wear, as well as the significant meaning of the songs and dances. They also explained the symbolism of objects and actions, such the drum itself and the beat they played on it. It was an informative peek into the culture of the native people of this Driftless Area. One that will helps ensure their traditional heritage is not soon forgotten. #wisconsindellssingers #funmaker #Ho-Chunk #HoChunkNation #HoChunk_Nation #Historium #Driftless_Historium #DriftlessHistorium #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #naturalwisconsin #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #redditig #culture #heritage #traditional #traditions
Elliott Funmaker, Sr. and his family conducted a cultural demonstration of Ho-Chunk Nation traditions at the Driftless Historium in Mount Horeb. They shared their rich heritage with many details about the regalia that they wear, as well as the significant meaning of the songs and dances. They also explained the symbolism of objects and actions, such the drum itself and the beat they played on it. It was an informative peek into the culture of the native people of this Driftless Area. One that will helps ensure their traditional heritage is not soon forgotten. #wisconsindellssingers #funmaker #Ho-Chunk #HoChunkNation #HoChunk_Nation #Historium #Driftless_Historium #DriftlessHistorium #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #naturalwisconsin #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #redditig #culture #heritage #traditional #traditions
Elliott Funmaker, Sr. and his family conducted a cultural demonstration of Ho-Chunk Nation traditions at the Driftless Historium in Mount Horeb. They shared their rich heritage with many details about the regalia that they wear, as well as the significant meaning of the songs and dances. They also explained the symbolism of objects and actions, such the drum itself and the beat they played on it. It was an informative peek into the culture of the native people of this Driftless Area. One that will helps ensure their traditional heritage is not soon forgotten. #wisconsindellssingers #funmaker #Ho-Chunk #HoChunkNation #HoChunk_Nation #Historium #Driftless_Historium #DriftlessHistorium #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #naturalwisconsin #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #redditig #culture #heritage #traditional #traditions
Early this morning I followed a whim and grabbed my longest zoom lens and headed out as soon as the kid was off to school. I ended up at Brigham Park, just past where I now work at Cave of the Mounds. There's a view there that simply tickles me. You can see around sixteen miles from the top of the smallest of the two "Blue Mounds." That's the Wisconsin River Valley you see off in the distance. Not long after shooting this a man came riding up to me on his bicycle, I could tell he was a distance rider and hailed him. He was up from Chicago, and was scouting out the area. Having seen that view earlier I helped him map out a bike quest from the Cave. He passed by this view, which is a nice meandering ride down the Mound into a charming little valley. I told him how to also find a scenic restored Prairie, and the best trout stream in the area. His route then brought him back full circle through Stewart Lake, past my house and to the local brew pub. From there he could take the Military Ridge trail to his camp in the nearby state park. It made my day knowing I'd sent him off to see things I knew he'd really enjoy. By the end of the day I received an email thanking me and letting me know he's bringing his scouting troop up over the summer to explore, come to the Cave and asked me to guide their tour. God, I love my job.
