History Makers Tour visits the Hodag Dome

As you walk to the entrance of the Hodag Dome, be prepared to be greeted by most valuable players, racing sausages, and legendary Wisconsin ski races. 

The greetings are captured in photos which are part of the “We Take Our Sports Seriously” display, coordinated by the Wisconsin History Makers Tour of the Wisconsin Historical Museum, and the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce.

(Photo by Blake Richard/River News)

The traveling tour “brings history directly to local communities in every region of the state through pop-up exhibits, artifact displays, public programs, art installations, and other activities,” their website says. 

Some of the history the tour brought to the Dome’s entrance include photos of Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Bucks’ championship run in 2021, a 1966 photo of the University of Wisconsin mascot, Bucky Badger, and a snapshot of Sophie Kurys, who played second base for the Racine Belles, part of the early All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. 

The statewide tour has different exhibits like history walks and even author appearances, that began to sprout around Wisconsin beginning in January 2023. Rhinelander is part of the North Central region of the tour, which started at the beginning of the year, and will conclude in July. 

April 6 was the first day of the Dome’s display, and it will go until April 30. Originally scheduled to begin April 1, the photos had to wait for some tricky weather to clear. 

Lauren Sackett, Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce executive director said of the History Makers Tour, and the “We Take Our Sports Seriously” display, “the sports tie with the Hodag Dome was a natural partnership.” 

She added that the Dome is a great place to stay active in sports through observation or activity, and now it’s a place to stop and learn some Wisconsin sports history as well. 

As you depart the Dome from whatever brought you there, you pass more photos that you may have missed on the way in. They send you not only on your way home, but back through the years with legendary sports figures and franchises who take their sports as serious as anyone. 

April 30 is the last day to see “We Take Our Sports Seriously,” because it will then be off to Waupaca.     

Rhinelander will have additional events on the History Makers Tour, including one during Hodag Festival in May with Dr. Lowell Brower, and another in June and July with a “Step Into History: The Tommy Bartlett Show” exhibit at Hodag Park.

For more information on future local events, see the upcoming events calendar on the Wisconsin Historical Society website.  

Blake Richard may be reached via email at [email protected].