Located in
Rhinelander, the Home of the
Hodag,
the Logging Museum is the only authentic logging camp in Northern
Wisconsin. Here, you can go back to a time that has long been forgotten,
the days of Boom Sticks, Bullwhackers, Cant hooks, Tote Roads, and Cook
Shanties. The Rhinelander Logging Museum is a true to life replica
of a lumber camp from the 1870's, when Northern Wisconsin was still a
virgin forest. The Logging museum is a perfect way to start your
Northwoods vacation.
The Museum is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10-A.M. to 5-P.M.
daily. There is no admission charge, but donations are greatly
appreciated. Don't forget your cameras.
Main Entrance
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During the late 19th century, as civilization forged into the last
northern outposts of Wisconsin's virgin wilderness, one type of man came
first, the logger. It was he who hewed out the" tote" roads which were
the first feelers of civilization's farms and cities. And yet, because
he was a true provincial, cut off from niceties of that Civilization,
the loggers developed their own unique and colorful culture.
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Cook Shanty
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The true to life lumber camp of the 1870's consists of a
bunkhouse, a cook shanty, and a blacksmith shop. These are constructed
of Norway pine logs. The early cook and sleeping shanties all came under
the same roof, but were latter separated with a cross walk between them
for sanitary reasons.
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Logging Equipment
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As you can see here, the chinking between the logs is plaster,
however, the early lumber camps used sphagnum moss. Many of the tools
and equipment used by the early loggers are on display at the Logging
Museum, including a Road Icier, the 'Big Wheels' used to haul the
logs, a Steam Hauler, and the Thunder Lake 80,000 lb steam engine, the
last of six, that ran the narrow gauge railroads with logs.
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The
Hodag
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Back
to Rhinelander Resorts |
On the first night of
the arrival of lumber camp novices, an Indian from the camp would
go out in a nearby swamp and make the most blood-curdling and
terrifying noises. The tenderfeet were told that this was the
Hodag wandering his native wilds. Many a tale was spun by the
loggers about this mythical animal and a great number were taken
in by the hoax. Latter, Gene Shepard, a pioneer and timber
crusier, caught the beast on camera. Thus, the legend of the Hodag
was born.
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