Waupun Sculpture Tour
DISCOVER THE ART OF WAUPUN
Waupun’s public art story begins with Clarence Shaler (1860-1941), a successful Waupun industrialist and entrepreneur. Shaler left his mark on the world as an inventor and creator. His most timeless legacy is expressed through a collection of bronze sculptures that includes work he commissioned by world-renowned sculptors James Earl Fraser and Lardo Taft. At age 70, Shaler himself began sculpting his own heritage in bronze. Many of his pieces are included in the Shaler legacy collection gifted to the City of Waupun and other institutions for which he felt a personal connection. Today visitors can enjoy Shaler’s legacy as part of the Waupun Sculpture Tour.
DOWNLOAD THE OTOCAST APP AND LISTEN TO A VIRTUAL TOUR
Download the Otocast App by searching in your App Store or scanning the QR Cost above. Take a virtual tour and hear first hand from the artist or those who have studied the artist to gain perspective on each piece in the collection. Search for the Waupun Sculpture Tour once you have application loaded and follow along.
EXPLORE THE LEGACY AND THE DOWNTOWN COLLECTIONS
In 2024, with support of Create Waupun nonprofit, five new sculptures, each with a unique tie to Waupun history were added as the Downtown Collection along with a digital tour narrating the story of each. Discover the art of Waupun by enjoying the Waupun Sculpture Tour.
THE END OF THE TRAIL (1)
The image of this heroic bronze, even its silhouette, has become an icon representing the plight of Native Americans who were displaced across this country.
The original model of “The End of the Trail” was created by James Earl Fraser in 1894 when he was 17 years old. Its completed size was only 18 inches tall. Fraser replicated his masterpiece in plaster for the 1914 Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco which was where Shaler first beheld the work of art. The child of pioneer farmers, Shaler witnessed the plight of Native Americans and was saddened by their disappearance. As a tribute, he commissioned James Earl Fraser to cast the statue in bronze at a cost of $50,000 and gifted it to the City of Waupun. The sculpture was unveiled at its present site on June 23, 1929. In 1975, the statue became a Wisconsin landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.
LOCATION: Shaler Park, 400 N. Madison Street
THE CITADEL (2)
Called one of Shaler’s masterpieces by a noted art conservator, The Citadel is one of the most recent additions to Waupun’s bronze gallery.
Shaler usually sculpted life-size tributes to his pioneer roots in bronze, covered in dark brown patinas. The dark theme of this piece, its unnerving devil and desperate woman, coupled with a mint-green patina make it a dramatic departure from Shaler’s usual style. Family members say Shaler may have been depicting the cataclysmic events taking place in Nazi Germany during World War II, sculpting the devil to represent the Nazi Party and the downcast woman, the German people. The Citadel was displayed at the University of Southern California in 1942 and was donated to the City of Waupun in the fall of 1994.
LOCATION: In front of Waupun Heritage Museum, 22 S. Madison Street
RECORDING ANGEL (3)
Shaler commissioned this serene angel in honor of his beloved wife, Blanche Bancroft Shaler, after her death. Recording Angel is the work of Lorado Taft, one of America’s foremost sculptors.
Shaler was conducting business in Chicago when he wandered into Taft’s studio. As their friendship developed, Taft became influential to Shaler’s growing interest in the art of sculpture. The detail on this statue is exquisite, from the filaments on the angel’s wings to her detailed toes. Recording Angel was presented as a gift to Waupun in 1923 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.
LOCATION: Central part of Forest Mound Cemetery on N. Madison Street
WHO SOWS BELIEVES IN GOD (4)
A monument to the optimism of those who plant all kinds of seeds, Who Sows is one of Clarence Shaler’s later works.
This statue spent 30 years in a basement after University of Wisconsin professors labeled it “inferior art.” For another 15 years it was placed in an isolated spot overlooking the fields of University Farms near Arlington, Wisconsin. Waupun historians recognized the value of the piece and petitioned to bring it to the City of Waupun where it was dedicated in August of 1995.
LOCATION: Waupun Memorial Hospital, 620 W. Brown Street
THE PIONEERS (5)
Shaler created this young family out of respect for the optimism that helped his parents and other settlers to forge ahead in the untamed wilderness of America.
Since its dedication in 1940, The Pioneers has been a well-loved landmark at Waupun’s Wilcox Park. Shaler sculpted this piece in memory of his mother’s steadfast dedication to her family and the toilsome pioneer lifestyle.
LOCATION: Wilcox Park, 404 S. Watertown Street
DOE AND FAWN (6)
This pair of deer are Shaler’s simple tribute to the pastoral scene at the Rock River Country Club, one of his favorite places. Wildlife roamed the grounds then as they do today.
In addition to inventing and manufacturing a new kind of umbrella, Shaler’s company also produced golf clubs. The wise industrialist was instrumental in creating Waupun’s Rock River Country Club.
LOCATION: Rock River Country Club entrance, 700 County Park Road
MORNING OF LIFE (7)
Shaler created this sculpture – some say his finest – in memory of his twin sister, Clara, who died at age 18 in the morning of her life. The bronze statue, a life-size young girl seated on a large rock, eyes gazing heavenward, stands in the quiet of Union Cemetery in Mackford Prairie, twelve miles northwest of Waupun.
LOCATION: Highway 49N (Main St., Waupun) to County Trunk AW; 6 ½ miles west to County Trunk Q; 3 miles north on Q to County Trunk X; ½ mile west on X to Union Cemetery
DAWN OF DAY (8)
“…like this Indian maiden who is casting off the old garments…who will ever look forward to the dawn of day of greater prosperity and happiness,” Shaler said in his dedication speech.
This statue, dedicated in 1931, is also known as “Waubun,” a Native American word which means “dawn of day.” The City of Waupun was originally called Waubun. The ‘b’ became a ‘p’ when the city’s name was commissioned around 1840 and a spelling error was made. Dawn of Day was Shaler’s first heroic bronze statue, sculpted using several different models to achieve the maiden’s perfection
LOCATION: City Hall, 201 E. Main Street
NARROW ESCAPE (9)
Narrow Escape celebrates Waupun’s proximity to the Horicon Marsh, the largest cattail marsh in the United States. The sculpture is sponsored by Horicon Bank.
Location: Horicon Bank, 807 W Main Street
AMERICAN FARMER (10)
Created using bronze, this sculpture symbolizes Waupun’s major role during World War II by the workers at National Rivet and Manufacturing and their ongoing commitments to building America. This sculpture is sponsored by the Waupun Historical Society.
Location: Farmer's Elevator, 2 W Main Street
WE CAN DO IT (11)
Created using bronze, this sculpture symbolizes Waupun’s major role during World War II by the workers at National Rivet and Manufacturing and their ongoing commitments to building America. This sculpture is sponsored by the Waupun Historical Society.
Location: Across from Waupun Public Safety Building, 16 E Main Street
THE WORLD'S HER CANVAS (12)
Through its message of celebrating creativity and art, this bronze sculpture correlates with the goals of the Create Waupun Organization (the sculpture’s sponsor) through the revitalization of Shaler’s Legacy of the arts.
Location: Imagine That Art Studio, 409 E Main Street
MONARCHY (13)
This sculpture made of iron complements the natural beauty of the Waupun Community. The sculpture is sponsored by the Waupun Fine Arts.
Location: Near 417 E Main Street in Food Truck Alley
DONATE TOWARD PERMANENT PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS
The Waupun Sculpture Tour strongly believes in bringing together our community with meaningfully unique public art for the betterment of Waupun. But, we need your help!
Create Waupun is a 501(c)3 non-profit that works to bring you the Waupun Sculpture Tour. Every year, the Waupun Sculpture Tour, if focused on transforming the streets of Waupun into a free, public, outdoor gallery showcasing the incredible work of artists from near and far. Your generous donation helps keep this tour alive and vibrant, directly supporting the installation, maintenance and sustainability of this art program.
Join us in making Waupun a more beautiful and inspiring place to live and visit. Donate today and be a part of something truly special! Together, we can ensure that art in Waupun remains accessible to everyone, adding color, creativity and character to our wonderful city.
Participate in the We Can Do It Community Challenge today! Every dollar donated to keep the We Can Do It sculpture will be matched up to $15,500 by National Rivet & Mfg Co. Participate in the We Can Do It Community Challenge today! Every dollar donated to keep the We Can Do It sculpture will be matched up to $15,500 by National Rivet & Mfg Co. Checks can be made payable to Create Waupun and dropped off at Horicon Bank, 807 W Main Street, Waupun. Or, online payments can be made at https://givebutter.com/WeCanDoIt-CommunityChallenge. Donations are tax deductible.
Ready to make a difference? Donate using the link below. For more information about gifts, donations, and levels of sponsorship, email Create Waupun at createwaupun@gmail.com.
Supporting Documents
Sculpture Map (630 KB) WE CAN DO IT COMMUNITY CHALLENGE (272 KB) 
