Hey! What's Up Beautiful, Historical and Fun Dunn County?
Welcoming Murals - A Scavenger Hunt Anyone?
What a cool sight to see while coming down Hwy 12 driving toward Main Street to a beautiful mural on the side of a building with the greeting, “Welcome To Menomonie”!
Each letter of the word “Menomonie” had a painting of an iconic building or scenic landscape representing all things Menomonie. UW-Stout which includes the landmark clock tower is painted inside the letter “M”. The letter “E” has a beautiful painting of an Indian. Not sure though what building is being represented that is painted in the letter “N”? Not being a life long Menomonite makes it difficult to know what historic building is being betrayed. Is it the original post office building? Or maybe the original City Hall?!? I believe I will need help on this one! 😁 The letter “O” looks like a painting of a Model T car cruising down good Ole Main Street Menomonie! Than a beautiful and scenic waterfall with a gentleman that appears to be fishing what is captured in the letter “M”. It appears to be a bridge with a dam beside a big white building on display in the letter “O”. And a sketch of the historic Mabel Tainter Theater is found in the letters “N” and “I” which needs some filling in with some colorful paint 🎨
Than last but not least is a scenic landscape of the Red Cedar River with a canoeist being surrounded by a pine forest for the letter “E”. Below the word “Menomonie” is a painting of the historic Hotel Marion with a classic car parked in front of the historic hotel. There also is a painting of a few cows by a red barn and white silo to paint the picture of rural Menomonie farmers. We are also reminded on this incredible and well done mural to go and discover more of Menomonie and Dunn County history at Rassbach Museum which is located at 1820 John Russell Road, Menomonie, Wisconsin. Ah Hah!! Now that's where I can find what historic building was painted in the first letter “N” of the word “Menomonie”. Gee, seek and ye shall find.🧐
I also found another sweet mural on the side of the Candy Store and Ice Cream Shoppe on Main Street Menomonie. It displays a painting of a delicious and indulgent milkshake for two! I am glad the artists are teaching the virtue of sharing because personally, I would have a hard time sharing a delicious and indulgent milkshake.😉 I probably would be saying, “Go get your own!” Hey! What can I say, at least I'm helping the business owners accumulate a higher profit margin$$ Anyway, the mural also promotes other goodies to enjoy at the Candy Store and Ice Cream Shoppe like Malts, Games, Soda-Pop, Toys and of course, Ice Cream and Candy. Sounds like a dream for kid's and big kid's too for their one stop shop all things fun and sweet🍭🍦 I must say what a wonderful job by Wade, Camile, Megan, Emily, Allie and Mia who are the artists that made this treasured sweet treat come to life.
As I continue cruising along Main Street couldn't help admiring a sculpture of a “Harp” by Mabel Tainter Theater. It feels part of the landscape since Mabel Tainter Theater has brought in many musical acts to the stage. It is quite articulate too as the artist used heavy metal to create the sculpture. And, it is eye catching when driving or walking down Main Street. By the way, there are 5 more sculptures to discover in Menomonie. Just to make this into a fun scavenger hunt I will provide you with the names of the other five sculptures without giving you the location. They are the “Pouncing Fox”, “Bear”, “Eggcited”, “Monarchy” and “Viewfinder”. This can be a fun thing to do for the whole family 😃 But for those who are not as adventurous you can check out Explore Menomonie website of the Sculpture Tour with the locations of each of the six sculptures displayed throughout Menomonie. And it even has a map of the city with the location points of the work of art.
Some cool things to check out and explore in the county seat of Menomonie. Have a fun and fabulous Labor Day weekend to all my incredible Dunn County neighbors! Let me know how your scavenger hunt goes🙂
From one Dunn County Neighbor to another - Have a fun one in Dunn🥳
Laurie J Christianson
Thanks for the local art update, Laurie. I appreciate your mural pictures as I have not seen those yet. Have you seen the mural on the side of the Machine Shed at the corner of 21st Avenue and Hwy 25? It is quite something. :)