Business
Historian defends Hiawatha statue
La Crosse’s park board is expected to vote Thursday night on the future of the Big Indian statue in Riverside Park.
Mayor Tim Kabat says this is the right time to have the artwork removed, but not everyone agrees.
Local historian Steve Kiedrowski tells WIZM’s La Crosse Talk that the Hiawatha statue should be restored, and educational material ought to be posted nearby.
There was also a box where you could hear information about the statue, if you pushed a button, but the box and the sign have been gone for years.
Kiedrowski says trying to move Hiawatha could be hazardous.
“There are actually two steel I-beams that run all the way through the statue, to support it and give it strength” he says. “And I think that once they start to try to remove that statue, I think it’s gonna crumble.”
nd he says the city should save money that could be used to remove Hiawatha and spend it on the library system instead.
Randy Hubert
July 15, 2020 at 6:18 am
If the statue has to be moved and the Zimmerhakl’s want it they should pay to have it removed and stored. Our tax dollars should not be used. If we leave it where it is for all tax payers to enjoy than I have no problem with restoring it and have an informative sign explaining the history.
Mrs Jeanie Garner
July 16, 2020 at 1:05 pm
I have always wondered why they haven’t put the story of Mr Zimmerhakl along with the History of Hiawatha, there is a story behind both….if the story of Hiawatha has him as a peace maker who brought 7 warring tribes together…what could possibly be offensive about that….In Michigan they have a statue of Hiawatha that is almost twice as big as ours and I haven’t heard any uproar about that one. I think if our Mayor caves in on this, and goes along with the statues….it’s wrong. Remember what time frame this statue is depicting…. how do you think he should be depicted? It’s like anything that represents a real part of our history, “needs” to be removed….How about teaching more history, so people can understand it, and learn from it….whether it’s good or bad…We live in a real world where some bad things happened…yes…and some good…so who decides what to do to please everyone….I hope our council will have some common sense and allow this statue to remain…with all the history to educate those who enjoy it….