Many in Sauk County have worked to preserve Man Mound landmark
Thank you for the recent article highlighting the Man Mound National Historic Landmark in Sauk County (“Road cuts off legs of ancient Indigenous site in Wisconsin,” Feb. 5).
As the owner of the property that preserves and protects the majority of the intact portion of Man Mound, the Sauk County Historical Society (SCHS) would like to add some clarification and more detail to the story.
The preservation of Man Mound is not and has not been done by one person but by many, both past and present. From Sauk County’s first surveyor William Canfield mapping the mound in 1859 to local historians H.E. Cole and A.B. Stout leading a collaborative fundraising effort to save the mound in 1907 after the remaining portion was threatened to be plowed under.
Even in recent years, the site has received incredible attention with Dr. Amy Rosebrough writing a detailed nomination for the site to become a National Historic Landmark, which was accepted in 2016, making Man Mound the only mound in Wisconsin with this designation.
Since 2020, many of the goals of the master plan for Man Mound have been implemented, including three new interpretive panels, prairie-oak savanna restoration and removal of hazard trees that could damage the mound if toppled. This coincides with the vision of restoration of a historical viewscape reminiscent of when Man Mound was initially constructed approximately 1,000 years ago.
The construction of the road and destruction of a portion of the mound in the mid-1800s was a travesty that can never be fully remedied. The idea of moving the road has been something that SCHS has been exploring for several years. In early 2020, SCHS Board Vice President Beverly Vaillancourt initiated a meeting with Rep. Mark Pocan to address the current location of Man Mound Road. This contact prompted Pocan, along with Rep. David Considine, to meet with SCHS and Sauk County representatives later the same year.
The group toured the mound and discussed the significance of its care and preservation and the potential for the road to be moved. It was agreed that bringing the mound parcels together again would indeed be beneficial. Furthermore, SCHS representatives have met with the Town of Greenfield board to discuss matters concerning Man Mound and keep them aware of our work involving the best interest for the site’s care.
SCHS remains committed to the exploration of that goal and continues its efforts on the preservation of Man Mound through its Sacred Sites Committee. We invite you to contact us for more information on this national treasure and its preservation.