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Video of Lake Kegonsa State Park (and Group Campground), Wisconsin
Lake Kegonsa State Park, established in 1962, is a 342 acre park on the shores of a 3,200 acre lake. The lake has excellent fishing for northerns and panfish. The lake was formed from glacial debris that dammed parts of what is believed to be an old river valley called the “Ancient Wisconsin River”. About 12,000 years ago the 4-Lakes of the Madison Area were formed: Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa. Lake Kegonsa, from the Ho-Chunk word meaning “Lakes of Many Fishes”, was referred to by early settlers as “First Lake”. A hiking trail near the family campground leads to a few effigy mounds built by Woodland Indians. There are 80 family campsites, three group campsites, two picnic shelters, fishing pier, boat launch, swimming beach, and a pet swim area. This video includes the group campground.
Lake Kegonsa State ParkLake Kegonsa State Park Campgrounds
Blog entries for Lake Kegonsa State Park
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Video of Wyalusing State Park – Bagley, Wisconsin
Wyalusing State Park sits on bluffs 500 feet above the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. Within the park’s 2,628 acres you will find hardwood forests, bluffs, springs, waterfalls, and spectacular vistas. You can see ancient Native American effigy mounds and imagine what the French explorers Marquette and Joliet thought about them as they became the first Europeans to set foot here in 1673. There are more than 23 miles of trails for hiking, biking and skiing. More than 100 bird species, including bald eagles, hawks, owls, and various waterfowl, can be observed during the spring and fall migrations. There are 109 family campsites, group tent campsites for 130 and a lodge/dormitory complex for 108 people. Nearby is the Villa Louis Victorian mansion. Across the river is the Effigy Mounds National Monument where you can observe 205 mounds considered as ceremonial and sacred sites by American Indian tribes.
Blog entries for Wyalusing State Park
Camping in Wyalusing State Park
Wyalusing State Park Campgrounds
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Mississippi River Sunset, Nelson Dewey State Park – Cassville, Wisconsin
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Video of Nelson Dewey State Park – Cassville, Wisconsin
Nelson Dewey State Park is a land of incredible vistas overlooking the Mississippi River valley. On the site is the home of Wisconsin’s first governor, Nelson Dewey. His 2,000 acre plantation was considered the state’s first large scale farming operation. The governor’s first home was gutted by fire in 1873. The current building was built on the original foundation. Across the road, the State Historical Society operates Stonefield Village and the State Farm Museum. There are a number of effigy mounds constructed by the Hopewell Indian group along the bluff trails and overlooks in the 750 acre park. The trail through the dry lime prairie restoration along the edge of the overlook is very scenic. Tent campers will be impressed with the four walk-in sites overlooking the Mississippi River valley.
YouTube video of Nelson Dewey State Park
Nelson Dewey State Park picture gallery
Nelson Dewey State Park Campgrounds
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Aztalan State Park, Wisconsin – Fortifications and Platform Mound
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Video of Aztalan State Park – Lake Mills, Wisconsin
Aztalan State Park is one of Wisconsin’s most important archaeological sites. It contains an ancient Middle-Mississippian village and ceremonial complex that existed between A.D. 1000 and 1300. The site was rediscovered in 1835. In 1850 Increase A. Lapham investigated the site. It became a state park in 1952, a National Landmark in 1964 and listed in the National Registry of Historic Places in 1966. The occupants of Aztalan built large, flat-topped pyramid shaped mounds and a stockade around their village.
Aztalan; Mysteries of an Ancient Indian Town by Robert A. Birmingham and Lynne G. Goldstein
Indian Mounds of Wisconsin by Robert A. Birmingham and Leslie E. Eisenberg
Excerpts from the Antiquities of Wisconsin by Increase A. Lapham, 1855 (electronic edition)
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Devil’s Lake State Park
©2008 John Wanserski for Creative Juice LLCThis image sponsored by Solar Powered Pond Pumps.
YouTube video of Devil’s Lake State Park
Devil’s Lake State Park images from the Wisconsin State Historical Society
Devil’s Lake State Park blog postings
Devil’s Lake State Park campsite videos
