Sightseeing Day - Wolf River & Keshena Falls

Our first stop on the Wolf River.
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Next stop on our driving tour were a couple of places along the Wolf River and State Hwy 55 and through the Menominee Nation Reservation.

We stopped first for some shots of the river at State Hwy 55 and County Hwy M. It was sort of one of those random shots, but the river was very picturesque in this area.

Of nine millions acres of land in Wisconsin originally controlled by the Menominee, they chose the area surrounding Keshena Falls as their present reservation.

Keshena Falls from the bank.
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The second stop were the Keshena Falls, also along State Hwy 55, just before State Hwy 47. The following is from a sign posted next to the falls.

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Keshena Falls & The Menominee

Of nine millions acres of land in Wisconsin originally controlled by the Menominee, they chose the area surrounding Keshena Falls as their present reservation. Because sturgeon were so important to the Menominee, so too was the falls. It was here that sturgeon stopped on their upstream spawning runs each spring, until construction of two downstream dams blocked their annual return.

Memorial for something along the side of the road and falls.
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It is said there is an underwater drum at the foot of the falls. In spring, high water beats the drum, calling the sturgeon home. Each spring for thousands of years, the sturgeon were called home from Lake Winnebago to these falls.

Because the falls was such an important site to the Tribe, it was here that the Treaty of 1854 was signed, establishing the Menominee Reservation. The first Menominee-Wisconsin casino compact was also signed here in 1992.

Historically, Keshena Falls was the location of the dancing ground where Pow-Wows were held each Sunday. A hydroelectric plant also operated here, providing electricity to tribal members for many years.

The Pow-Wows have been moved to the Woodland Bow, the hydroelectric plant has been removed and the sturgeon come only as far north as Shawano. Yet, Keshena Falls is still, and will remain, a treasured place in the hearts of the Menominee.

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Here we spent some time around the falls area and took some pictures. There was an interesting memorial by the side of the road, I wasn't really sure what it was for, there was no plaque or anything, after reading about all the events that took place here I suppose it could've represented just about anything.