Wisconsin Concrete Park
|
Wisconsin Concrete Park | |
 | |
|
"Mr. Knox and Oxen", a sculpture in the park | |
  | |
| Location | WI 13 S., Worcester, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 45°40′15″N 90°23′19″W / 45.67083°N 90.38861°WCoordinates: 45°40′15″N 90°23′19″W / 45.67083°N 90.38861°W |
| Area | 18 acres (7.3 ha) |
| Built | 1948 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements |
| NRHP Reference # | 05001195[1] |
| Added to NRHP | October 28, 2005 |
The Wisconsin Concrete Park is a sculpture park located along Wisconsin Highway 13 in the town of Worcester, Wisconsin. The park includes over 200 folk art sculptures built with concrete and decorated with glass bottles and other found objects. Fred Smith, who ran the Rock Garden Tavern on the property, began building the sculptures in 1948 after retiring from his career as a lumberjack. Smith, who lacked any formal artistic education, initially built two-dimensional bas relief plaques and eventually transitioned to constructing his larger sculptures. Smith continued building sculptures until 1964, when a stroke forced him to stop working.[2] Smith claimed that the sculptures "came to [him] naturally" and that "nobody knows why I made these sculptures, even me."[3]
The sculptures primarily feature people engaging in everyday activities, such as farming, watching workers, and drinking beer. Animals are also frequently depicted, both in the wild and helping with farm work.[3] One sculpture, the last Smith completed before his stroke, features a team of Clydesdales pulling a Budweiser wagon.[4] Historic and legendary figures such as Ben-Hur, Paul Bunyan, and Abraham Lincoln are also depicted.[5]
After Smith's death in 1976, a storm damaged over 70% of the figures. The Kohler Foundation rehabilitated the park and donated it to Price County, and the land is now a county park.[4][6] The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 2005.[1]
References
- 1 2 Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
- ↑ "Wisconsin Concrete Park". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
- 1 2 "Fred Smith's Wisconsin Concrete Park: History". Friends of Fred Smith. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
- 1 2 "Wisconsin Concrete Park". Kohler Foundation. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Wisconsin Concrete Park". Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Wisconsin Concrete County Park". Price County Forestry and Parks Department. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
External links
- Friends of Fred Smith - Wisconsin Concrete Park
- Wisconsin Concrete Park - Visit Price County
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
