Land as Spirit: Ancient Earthworks Site Tour

10:00–10:45 | Presentation at MOWA
11:15–12:00 | Walk-through at
Lizard Mound State Park
2121 Co Hwy A
West Bend, WI 53090

Join archaeologist and author Kurt Sampson, Principal of the Effigy Mounds Initiative and Director/Curator of the Dodge County Historical Society, for a presentation at MOWA followed by a guided tour of Lizard Mound State Park, located just 4.8 miles north of the museum. Having previously studied archaeology at the site, Sampson brings both scholarly expertise and deep familiarity to this landscape.

Participants will explore the history and cultural significance of Wisconsin’s ancient effigy mounds—the state’s earliest form of landscape art—where earth itself was shaped into sacred and symbolic forms. The presentation and tour will discuss the mystery of their origins, how Indigenous communities shaped and used the land, and the ongoing challenges of preservation. The program will also consider how contemporary groups continue the vital work of stewardship and protection today.

A Wisconsin State Park system vehicle admission pass is required for all vehicles visiting Lizard Mounds State Park. Carpooling from MOWA is encouraged.

FREE for members. Registration required.