Milwaukee County Parks to Respectfully Remove Indigenous Burial Mound Marker in Lake Park

Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee County Parks has initiated a respectful process to remove the marker from the Indigenous conical burial mound located in Lake Park. The burial mound’s marker, originally placed on September 9, 1910, by the Board of Park Commissioners at the request of the Wisconsin Archaeological Society, disturbs the sacredness of the mound and defaces its surface.

The central placement of the marker, situated at the highest point of the mound, has inadvertently encouraged visitors to walk on the sacred site in order to read its inscription, violating the proper etiquette and respect owed to both present and past Indigenous communities. Milwaukee County Parks wishes to remind visitors that walking on the mound must be avoided.

The removal of the marker and restoration of the mound’s surface represents Milwaukee County Parks’ commitment to improved stewardship of culturally significant sites. This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to preserve and uplift Indigenous history and heritage within public spaces.

On May 9, 2024, Milwaukee County Parks staff held discussions with several professionals to determine the best methods for the marker’s removal. Among those present were Bill Quackenbush, the Ho-Chunk Tribal Historic Preservation Officer; Amy Rosebrough and Taylor Lambrigger from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO); and Jennifer Haas, along with her team from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Cultural Resource Management Program.

In order to ensure the utmost care, Milwaukee County Parks staff will perform the marker removal process internally. Any disturbances to the turf during excavation will be restored to maintain the integrity of the site.

“This is a significant first step toward rightly honoring the sacred nature of the burial mound and respecting the cultural traditions of Indigenous communities,” said Guy Smith, Milwaukee County Parks Executive Director. “We are dedicated to preserving the history of this land while ensuring that future generations can appreciate these important sites with the reverence they deserve.”

“Honoring the sacred nature of the burial mound in Lake Park is a vital part of our ongoing efforts to ensure our parks reflect respect for all cultures. The removal of this defacement is just the start to ensuring its preservation for generations to come,” said Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman.

The Milwaukee County Parks would like to recognize and thank the Milwaukee Parks Foundation for funding the archeological consultation for this project.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.