WINTER SOLSTICE OBSERVANCE SLATED FOR FRANK’S HILL – DECEMBER 21, 2024

Dec 10, 2024 by Brett

            The public is invited to Frank’s Hill in southern Richland County on Saturday, December 21st, to view the setting sun on the day of the year with the least amount of daylight, known as the winter solstice. The site is a small knoll peppered with effigy mounds located on STH 193 just off STH 60 a few miles west of Muscoda and has been a gathering place for many solstice and equinox events in the past.  Weather permitting, area residents are invited to join the festivities and remember events of the past year.  A moment of silence will be observed for those who have passed away since the last trip around the sun.  Following the sunset, attendees are welcome to gather around the campfire to share stories and learn more about Frank’s Hill, considered a sacred site by the Ho-Chunk Nation and other Native American peoples.  The event is sponsored by the Three Eagles Foundation.

            Frank’s Hill is on the National Register of Historic Places.  A group of unique effigy mounds is situated on the East Ridge where the event will occur. The site offers a panoramic vista of the area which once contained the highest concentration of bird effigy mounds found anywhere in the world, including the remnants of the giant Ghost Eagle mound with a wingspan of nearly 1300 feet.  The Ghost Eagle mound factors into the alignment with the setting sun on the winter solstice.  Most archeologists agree the mounds were built a thousand or more years ago.

            Participants should arrive by 4:00 p.m. to allow for time to hike to the top of the hill.  Dress warmly and bring your own food and drink, and a chair for sitting around the fire.  Directions to Frank’s Hill are as follows; from the north end of the Muscoda bridge at the intersection of STH 80 & 60, drive west on Hwy. 60 for two miles and turn north on STH 193.  Park by the first gate on the east side of the road, a short distance from Hwy. 60, and follow the field road to the top of the hill.  

            To learn more about the solstice event or for directions, contact Brian McGraw at (608) 778-2260.  Additional information may be found at the Three Eagles Foundation website or Facebook page.

read more

BATTLE OF WISCONSIN HEIGHTS TOUR ON NOVEMBER 9TH, 2024

Nov 6, 2024 by Brett

The 2024 Cultural Landscape Legacies annual tour will begin at the historic Battle of Wisconsin Heights site from the Black Hawk War of 1832 on Saturday, November 9th, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The site is located on STH 78 a short distance from Sauk City. The tour will be led by David Gjestson, former Department of Natural Resources Riverway Coordinator, who was responsible for acquisition of the historic site in the early 1990’s and who is a scholar of the Black Hawk War and, in particular, the famous battle fought at that location. In addition to the Gjestson tour, the group will visit the Native American burial grounds on the property before traveling to Ferry Bluff for a hike to Cactus Bluff to view the landscape and the route of flight across the river taken by Black Hawk’s people. Following lunch in Spring Green, the group will tour the shot tower at Tower Hill State Park and discuss the role of Old Helena in the Black Hawk War. A Wisconsin State Park sticker will be required for the final stop.

Reservations are required and the tour is limited to the first 15 people to sign up. Contact Mark Cupp, CLL President, by calling 608-739-3188 or by email at [email protected]. Cultural Landscape Legacies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving rock art, earthworks and cultural resources in the Upper Midwest. For more information, go to www.clli.org or find CLL on Facebook.

read more

EQUINOX EVENTS SLATED FOR FRANK’S HILL – Sept. 22, 2024

Sep 9, 2024 by Brett

Frank’s Hill, an effigy mound site in southern Richland County, will be open to the public for observance of the autumnal equinox.  Fall officially begins at 7:43 a.m. on Sunday, September 22^nd.  Everyone is invited to gather at this sacred effigy mounds site near Muscoda to view the sunset and gather around a campfire on the evening of Saturday, September 21^st, to bid farewell to summer.  Early risers are welcome to view the sunrise on the morning of September 22^nd.  The site also may be visited during the day to see the mounds and the grand vista.  The Three Eagles Foundation will have a tour guide available at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening prior to the sunset.  Participants should arrive by 6:00 a.m. to view the sunrise on Sunday the 22^nd.  The events are subject to suitable weather conditions.  A short hike will be required to the top of the hill that offers a stunning view of the lower Wisconsin River valley. The site is located 2 miles west of Muscoda near the intersection of Hwy. 60 and Hwy. 193. 

            Frank’s Hill is on the National Register of Historic Places.  A group of unique effigy mounds is situated on the east ridge where the observances will occur.  Across Hwy. 193, the west ridge is situated where a line of features, believed to be calendar indicators related to the summer solstice, are located.  The lands around the site once contained the highest concentration of bird shaped mounds found anywhere in the world.  The mounds are thought to have been built during the Late Woodland period dating back to one thousand or more years ago.

            To learn more about the equinox event or for directions, contact Mark Cupp at (608) 739-2179 or visit the Three Eagles Foundation website or Facebook page.

read more

CELEBRATE SPRING’S ARRIVAL AT FRANK’S HILL ON MARCH 20TH

Mar 12, 2024 by Brett

            The tradition of observing solstice and equinox events at a site in southern Richland County will continue with recognition of the vernal equinox amongst the ancient effigy mounds at Frank’s Hill near Muscoda on March 20^th.  The Three Eagles Foundation will welcome people for the sunrise and sunset marking the official changing of the seasons. The east-west alignment of the mounds coincides sunrise and sunset at the spring equinox.  Spring begins at 10:06 p.m. (CDT) the evening of Tuesday, March 19^th, meaning the first sunrise and sunset of spring will be the following day, March 20th. Representatives of the Three Eagles Foundation will be on Hill East for both events, weather permitting. 

            Frank’s Hill will be open to the public for folks to visit the mounds on other days or to hike the new trail loop that circles Hill East.   To visit the mounds, a short hike to the top of the hill is required which follows the former access road and is considered an easy to moderate walk of about 5 minutes from the gate.  Guests are rewarded with a stunning view of the lower Wisconsin River valley.  Participants should arrive by 6:30 a.m. for sunrise or 6:30 p.m. or earlier to observe the sunset.  A campfire will follow sunset for discussion of the mounds and sharing of stories if burning conditions will allow.  The site is located 2 miles west of Muscoda near the intersection of Hwy. 60 and Hwy. 193.  Park well off the road on the shoulder and enter by the gate.  Bring a chair or blanket and your own beverage or snack.

            Frank’s Hill is on the National Register of Historic Places.  A group of unique effigy mounds is situated on Hill East where the observances will occur.  The mounds are thought to have been built a thousand or more years ago by the people of the Late Woodland Tradition, recognized by many as the ancestors of the modern Ho-Chunk Nation.

            To learn more about the equinox event or for directions, contact Three Eagles Foundation Vice-President Mark Cupp at 739-2179 or visit the Foundation’s website or Facebook page.

read more

WINTER SOLSTICE OBSERVANCE SLATED FOR FRANK’S HILL

Dec 11, 2023 by Brett

            The public is invited to Frank’s Hill in southern Richland County on Thursday, December 21st, when the setting sun on the shortest of day of the year will be viewed from a small knoll peppered with effigy mounds in southern Richland County.  The property is located on STH 193 just off STH 60 a few miles west of Muscoda and has been the site of many solstice and equinox gatherings in the past.  Weather permitting, area residents are invited to join the festivities and remember events of the past year.  A moment of silence will be observed for those who have passed away since the last trip around the sun.  Following the sunset, attendees are welcome to gather around the campfire to share stories and learn more about Frank’s Hill, considered a sacred site by the Ho-Chunk Nation and other Native American peoples.  The event is sponsored by the Three Eagles Foundation.

            Frank’s Hill is on the National Register of Historic Places.  A group of unique effigy mounds is situated on the East Ridge where the event will occur, which looks across to the west ridge where a line of small mounds, believed to be calendar mounds, is situated.  The site offers a panoramic vista of the area which once contained the highest concentration of bird effigy mounds found anywhere in the world, including the remnants of the giant Ghost Eagle mound with a wingspan of over ¼ mile.  The Ghost Eagle mound factors into the alignment with the setting sun on the winter solstice.  Most archeologists agree the mounds were built a thousand or more years ago.

            Participants should arrive by 4:00 p.m. to allow for time to hike to the top of the hill.  Dress warmly and bring food, drink, and a chair for sitting around the fire.  Directions to Frank’s Hill are as follows; from the north end of the Muscoda bridge at the intersection of STH 80 & 60, drive west on Hwy. 60 for two miles and turn north on STH 193.  Park by the first gate on the east side of the road, a short distance from Hwy. 60, and walk to the top of the hill.               To learn more about the solstice event or for directions, contact Dave Martin at (608) 739-4198 or Mark Cupp at (608) 739-2179.   Additional information may be found at the Three Eagles Foundation website or Facebook page.

read more