Exploring Wausau

The first leg of a recent trip to northern Wisconsin with a friend took us as far as Wausau. Driving a roundabout route, we first visited a few Ozaukee County attractions including Pioneer Village, the Americanism Center in Waubeka, and Stony Hill School, the birthplace of Flag Day. Another out-of-the-way stop along the way was Scandinavia, WI, population 363 in honor of my friend’s Swedish heritage.

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum

Upon arrival in Wausau, our first stop was the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. The grounds also include the Mary Woodson Fisher Sculpture Garden. We started our tour of the museum by walking through the sculpture garden, where we found the statues shown below.

Margaret Woodson Fisher Sculpture Garden

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum

After the sculpture garden, we toured the art museum, viewing the current exhibits. These included first Maker’s Mediums, featuring studio materials and artist’s tools. Next, we viewed paintings in the renowned Birds in Art collection.

Janke Book Store

Following the sculpture garden and art museum, our next stop was the Janke Book Store in downtown Wausau. This is the oldest book store in Wisconsin, established in 1874. The store’s website tells the story:

Purchased by Carl Janke after his U.S. Army discharge from World War I in 1919, Janke Book Store is recognized as an institution in Wausau. Janke Book Store has held true to the adage of founder Janke that an independent bookstore’s success is founded on providing far more than books to its customers. From the days of horse and buggy to today’s fast paced, computerized generation, Janke Book Store offers the widest selection of products and services featured, along with a comprehensive slideshow, on our PRODUCTS page, to its valued customers.

Of course, visiting this fascinating book store brought out the photographer in me.

This concluded our first day of travel on this adventure. We overnighted in Wausau, taking a suite at the Jefferson Street Inn. The next morning, we took a walk along the Wisconsin River on the River Edge Parkway.

River Edge Parkway

Naturally, a beautiful September morning afforded more photo opportunities during a walk along Wausau’s beautiful River Edge Parkway.

Thus began the second day of a recent Northwoods Adventure. From Wausau, it was on to Rhinelander.