History of the Park
1948 – 1964: The Vision of Fred Smith
The Wisconsin Concrete Park is an outdoor museum comprised of 237 embellished concrete sculptures and other objects built by the retired lumberjack Fred Smith from 1948 to 1964. In this sculptural environment, Smith created a cohesive panorama of local, regional, and national history, combined with legends derived from late 19th and early 20th century northwoods culture.
"...for all the American people everywhere. They need something like this."
Self-taught and entirely unmotivated by financial gain or art world fame, Smith created this site for the people. He placed it where they could find it, not in an indoor museum, but right on the side of the road.
1976 – 1987: Preservation & The Great Storms
In 1976, the site was purchased by Kohler Foundation, Inc.. Restoration was well underway when a devastating cyclonic “downburst” hit Price County in 1977, causing tremendous damage to the sculptures and destroying the integral landscape trees.
The project was completed in 1978 and gifted to Price County. Ten years later, a second major storm struck the region, precipitating the need for an ongoing annual maintenance and conservation program to maintain the site's original state.
Present Day: A Global Cultural Resource
Today, it is estimated that over 10,000 visitors tour the site each year, traveling from all over the world to see one of the most original sculptural environments in existence. Fred Smith’s Wisconsin Concrete Park has expanded to become a community arts resource where the creative spirit inspires countless activities. While the site has changed since Smith’s time, his artistic legacy is being preserved with the highest standards.
