One Last Move
Our time in Red Wing was short but sweet, and today we head to Winona – our last stop of the trip. Along the way we visited an Eagle Center, another Lock & Dam, and a unique sculpture garden. We also had lunch by some Grumpy Old Men, although Jim was not one of them on this beautiful day in Wisconsin!
To start at the beginning of this series, visit GRR: La Crosse to St. Paul
Another Scenic Route
This morning we crossed over the Mississippi back to Hager City and headed south in Wisconsin. Somehow we missed Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area in Stockholm, so we stopped along the GRR to visit its historical marker (shown below). Although the bluff would have given us a more elevated view, there was nothing wrong with this panorama! And its marker tells the tragic tale of how Maiden Rock got its name.
Maiden Rock Bluff overlooks Lake Pepin and is considered one of Wisconsin’s “premiere limestone cliff faces high above the Mississippi. Extending for nearly a mile, the 400-foot-high bluff is home to nesting Peregrine Falcons; one of only six bluffs on the Mississippi River where the falcons successfully nest.” The Mississippi River flyway is an important migration corridor, and its rocky bluffs provide excellent hunting opportunities and resting spots for raptors and other migrating birds.
The second marker shown below was just down the road. It speaks to how “Nicholas Perrot (a daring adventurer and handsome Frenchman, fur-trader and able diplomat) built Fort St. Antoine near here in 1686, and formally took possession of the entire region west of the Great Lakes in the name of Louis XIV“.
National Eagle Center in Wabasha
At Nelson, we crossed back over the river into Minnesota for a visit to the National Eagle Center. Minnesota has more nesting pairs of bald eagles than any other state in the U.S. and the Center’s Eagle Watch Deck is one of the best places to spot them!
“Eaglewatch Cam! With this live view of the Mississippi River at the National Eagle Center, you can watch for bald eagles any time!
Our Bald Eagle Cam overlooks the Mississippi River in Wabasha, MN because eagle activity peaks in the winter months – but eagles can be seen year-round. Watch eagles catch fish, soar over the river, perch on trees & more. View our eagle watch cam any time on the National Eagle Center website. Of course, the best way to see eagles is to visit Wabasha and join us on an Eagle Viewing Field Trip!” ~ WATCH NOW!
What a Wonderful Visit!
Although we didn’t see any eagles in the wild, three were inside being rehabilitated. A young woman gave a great talk about her time at the Center and her passion for nature. The views of and from the center were fantastic and from the observation deck we could see where LOTS of eagles WOULD BE perched when the leaves are gone in the fall or winter.
There was beautiful signage about the different types of eagles – their stories, their wingspans and coloring, and information about the eagle’s resurgence since the Endangered Species Act of 1973. An area was dedicated to President Biden’s bill that passed on December 23, 2024 “making the Bald Eagle the Official National Bird of the United States of America” – even though it has been accepted as a national symbol for 248 years.
Even “Old Abe, the War Eagle” made another appearance. Remember Old Abe adorned with silverware in Prescott, WI? Here’s the link!
Be sure to click on the second photo below to read the caption! It gives credit to the illustrator and tells of the eagle’s immortal youth because of its name. It’s kinda beautiful!
Down by the River
The outside of the Eagle Center was as lovely as the inside with a boat dock and great views of the Wabasha Nelson Bridge. Condos along the River must have great views of the eagles come winter and the landscaping around the Center was impeccable. A rock “staircase” on the river side allowed the water from the fountain up top to spill into the River resembling a waterfall.
Speaking of the fountain up top, a 10-foot tall bronze sculpture of Wapahasha II – a Native American and Wabasha’s namesake – provided a little history of the area. For more information about this “highly skilled diplomatic leader of the Dakota Nation”, click on the last photo below.
Time for a Break!
We couldn’t come to Wabasha without a stop at Slippery’s Bar & Grill! We are old enough to remember two excellent movies with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemon from 1993 and 1995. The quote below tells of Slippery’s claim to fame!
“Originally just a shack for beer, bait & burgers, Slippery’s was made famous by the movies “Grumpy Old Men” & “Grumpier Old Men”. Taking their usual liberties with reality, Hollywood named the bait shop “Chuck’s Bait Shop”, (in memory of Wabasha’s former chief of police because he was such a regular customer), and Slippery’s Tavern was placed elsewhere in town.
The existing facility dated back to 1979 when the original shack burned down, and Slippery & Gladys rebuilt the resort with boat rentals and a gas dock. Slippery was an avid fisherman who was a legend in town, known for his quick wit, and knowledge of every good fishing hole in the area, and believe me his legend has continued to grow with every story that has been told about him since his death in 1992.” ~ READ MORE
Rieck’s Lake Park / Alma Beach
We went back into Wisconsin for a short visit at Rieck’s Lake Park in Alma. Lots of informational signs had our hopes up to see migrating Tundra Swans, but no such luck – although during spring and fall our odds would be a lot better. The crusty lake was definitely interesting, but not as pretty as Alma Beach and Recreation Area.
Lock & Dam #4
Still in Alma, we went up a lot of steep steps to take the pedestrian bridge over some railroad tracks. From there we entered an observation platform overlooking Lock and Dam #4. Although we weren’t able to get a bird’s eye view of a train screaming by under us or a boat or barge going thru the lock, it was a great visit. If you are curious about how the lock and dam system works, click on the READ MORE in the quote below for some very interesting information in a pdf from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“The St. Paul District’s navigation program provides a safe, reliable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation system on the Upper Mississippi River for the movement of commercial goods and national security needs. To do this, the district maintains a 9-foot navigation channel and 13 locks and dams from Minneapolis to Guttenberg, Iowa.” READ MORE
“Lock and Dam No. 4, located at river mile 752.8 in Alma, Wis., is an important link in the “step” system of the Upper Mississippi 9-foot navigational channel. The Corps of Engineers originally placed the facility in operation in May 1935. The lock and dam locks thousands of vessels every year, ranging from commodity-laden tows to small pleasure craft and canoes.
Commodities carried by barges include grain, coal, fertilizer and petroleum products. The lock is 600 feet long by 110 feet wide. It raises and lowers traffic seven feet. The dam is 6,876 feet long, including 1,367 feet of movable gate sections and 5,500 feet of earth fill dike. The movable gate section consists of six roller gates and 22 Tainter gates.” READ MORE
Buena Vista Park Overlook
When we left the lock, we took a long and winding road up to Buena Vista Park Overlook. Jim needed a break and decided to wait in the car. Unfortunately he missed the very best panoramic views of the day. Luckily some random guy asked if I wanted him to take my picture! He and his girlfriend were doing selfies all over the place and you’ll see why!
This scenic vista is 500 feet above Alma and the Mississippi River Valley and is a “must see” on your visit to Alma.
Prairie Moon Sculpture Gardens
Our next stop was very interesting, and a perfect “last stop” before our arrival in Winona. Unfortunately the museum was closed, so we just wandered amongst the colorful sculptures. When I saw the Kohler Foundation sign, my mind immediately went to Concrete Park in Phillips, WI – which was another of the Kohler Foundation’s projects. Concrete Park is referred to in the video below.
This video podcast of Herman Rusch’s Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden and Museum in Cochrane, WI is brought to you by the Wisconsin Art Environment Consortium, funded in part by the Joint Effort Marketing Program of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, and Friends of Fred Smith, Inc., with funding from Kohler Foundation, Inc. Additional support for this podcast was provided by Arts Wisconsin.
