The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we’re featuring

Trempealeau County; https://bit.ly/3D0LDCi

The Cabin is also presented by WCA’s Group Health Trust; serving local governments and school

districts, the WCA Group Health Trust partners closely with members to fulfill their employee health

benefit obligations in a fiscally responsible manner. Learn more here; https://bit.ly/3JMizCX

Campfire Conversation:

Eric and Ana dive into Wisconsin history with a focus on Native American settlements and mound

builders, getting some remarkable insight from Bob Birmingham, the Executive Director of Friends of

Aztalan State Park. He is also a former state archeologist and retired professor from UW-Waukesha and

has authored several books on historic sites in the state. Mr. Birmingham discussed how Aztalan was

essentially the state’s first city and home to the original agricultural sites. Further settlements were

discussed and how they changed based on diet, available resources, weather, health, and potential

hostilities from animals and other people. Native Americans in Wisconsin built effigy mounds – by most

counts 15,000 – 20,000 of them - across the state. Eric, Ana, and Mr. Birmingham discuss many of those

that have been recognized and preserved, including at Lizard Mound State Park, which was recently

upgraded from a county park in Washington County. Other locations include Wyalusing State Park

where the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers meet, Man Mound National Monument near Baraboo,

Pendarvis in Mineral Point and other state historic sites. The history of mining, particularly lead, was also

discussed as it was incredibly influential to the state’s history, even leading to the state’s mascot being

the “Badgers” and the initial fur trade that established connections between European explorers and

settlers and the Native Americans already in the state. In all, it’s a comprehensive look at how the state

developed during its early history and where you can go to learn further about, and even sense, this

history.

Inside Sponsors

Ho Chunk: https://bit.ly/3l2Cfru 

Marshfield Clinic; All of Us Research Program; https://bit.ly/3Wj6pYj