Odd Wisconsin Archive
Concrete Cattle
A century ago the Price Co. town of Phillips was best-known for a devastating forest fire, but today it's remarkable for folk art. Its "Wisconsin Concrete Park" is an outdoor museum with more than 200 embellished concrete and mixed media sculptures. These fantastic creatures were built between 1948 and 1964 by Fred Smith, a retired lumberjack and self-taught artist. Gigantic cattle, enormous beer drinkers, massive oxen pulling sleds, and even a cement team of Clydesdale horses grace the grounds. To learn more about why and how they were made and to see photos, visit our description of the site on the National Register of Historic Places pages.
:: Posted in Curiosities on May 8, 2006
Did You Know?
The Wisconsin Historical Museum is currently featuring Odd Wisconsin objects in the latest exhibit: Odd Wisconsin. And don't miss the Odd Wisconsin book by author Erika Janik published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press.
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