Spirits of Wyalusing - 2011 ~ Friends of Wyalusing State Park

The Friends of Wyalusing State Park invites the public on Saturday evening, September 24, 2011, for an adventure into history. The Spirits of Wyalusing Past is an annual event sponsored by the Friends of Wyalusing. It begins at 7:00 PM in the Peterson Shelter. The event is free, however any vehicle entering the park will need a Wisconsin State Parks sticker. Stickers can be purchased at the park Visitor Center the day of the event.

Interesting, colorful, historical tid-bits of the area will be presented by 'Spirits of Wyalusing Past'. The spirits will be located near a 500 foot bluff, overlooking the night lights of Prairie du Chien, and the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers.

Participants will need to be able to walk about 0.5 miles along a path lit by torches and hand-carved, lighted pumpkins. The pathway includes a few steps. Guides will walk along with each group lending assistance when needed.

A silent auction featuring quality hand-made items will also be held during the event. Included are one-of-a-kind, hand-made quilt with photos from Wyalusing State Park, and hand painted shelf fungi featuring a fish motif.

Free refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the event. The Friends of Wyalusing use funds raised from the event to assist with park projects as well as the Friends of Wyalusing Endowment fund. For more information, call the park office at (609)996-2261 with questions or visit the Friends of Wyalusing web site at www.wyalusing.org. This event may be postponed or cancelled due to inclement weather. Last year's Spirits of Wyalusing Past was attended by over 250 people.

For more information or to make a donation, please visit http://www.wyalusing.org or call the Park Office at (609)996-2261

There will still be plenty of time to go to the Starsplitters astronomy program after this event.

*Photos from Spirits of Wyalusing Past - 2010

Endowment Fund

The Friends of Wyalusing is the very first friends group of a state park in Wisconsin to start an endowment fund for a state park. This means there will be financial support for conservation and education programs for many more generations of park enthusiasts

Support the Friends of Wyalusing State Park Endowment Fund. The Friends of Wyalusing State Park Endowment Fund is a permanent endowment, managed by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin. Contributions to Fund support the natural resources and educational, interpretive and recreational needs of Wyalusing State Park.

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Paul Lawrence Interpretive Center

The Paul Lawrence Interpretive Center at Wyalusing State Park was dedicated on June 3, 2012. The building, originally constructed in 1939 under the depression era Works Progress Administration (WPA), will serve as a legacy to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), also a depression era program. The building served as the park office until 1998. "Paul Lawrence was the first park superintendent at Wyalusing State Park," said Wyalusing State Park Manager, Lisa Pitzer. "He was instrumental in the development of the park and the depression era programs that provided much of the infrastructure of the park that is still in use today." Watch 14 minute Video.