Old Abe Veterans Memorial
N 45° 55.875 W 090° 27.125
15T E 697533 N 5089565
Old Abe the War Eagle: Wisconsin's most famous Civil War veteran
Waymark Code: WM6Q0M
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 07/05/2009
Views: 6
During the Civil War, Army units also adopted nicknames or mascots to build the soldiers' spirits and unity.
Some Civil War units had live bears, dogs, or even goats as mascots. But by far the famous mascot in the Civil War was Old Abe, the War Eagle from Wisconsin.
Native Americans caught Old Abe near Park Falls, Wisconsin, when he was very young. Eventually, some soldiers from the Eau Claire area bought the young eagle and made him the mascot of their unit---the 8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. They named him "Old Abe" in honor of President Abraham Lincoln.
Because Old Abe was such an impressive mascot, his unit earned the nickname---the "Eagle Regiment."
Like his fellow Wisconsin soldiers, Old Abe was in many battles. During the fighting, a soldier was in charge of protecting Old Abe, who was tied to his perch by a cord. When the battle was over, Old Abe was sometimes allowed to wander about the soldiers' camp.
After the Civil War, Old Abe lived in his own special room in the basement of the State Capitol in Madison. Because he was so famous as a Civil War mascot, he toured the country and thousands of tourists visited him at the Capitol.
In 1881, a small fire broke out near his room in the Capitol. Although he was not burned, Old Abe got sick from the smoke and died a few weeks later. He was more than 21-years-old when he died.
Civil War veterans from around the country were very sad when Old Abe died. As a final tribute, Old Abe's body was preserved and placed in a glass display case in the Capitol.
In 1904, the Capitol burned down, and the body of Old Abe was lost in the fire. However, copies or replicas of Old Abe were created so that people would always remember him and the soldiers who fought and died in the Civil War.
Since 1915, a replica of Old Abe has been on display in the room at the Capitol where the Wisconsin Assembly meets.
A replica of Old Abe also is on display at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.
His name lives on in other ways, too.
Type of Memorial: Non-Specific Memorial
In Honor Of: The men and women of the Park Falls area who have served in the Armed Forces and Old Abe the War Eagle.
Marker Text:
In honor of the men and women of the Park Falls area who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces of the United States defending our freedoms and the principles of democracy, and especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and were Killed-In-Action during the wars and conflicts of the United States of America. This memorial further commemorates Park Falls as the birthplace of Old Abe the War Eagle, famed mascot of Company C, 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during America's Civil War.
On this site, August 5th, 1995, Wisconsin State Highway 13 was dedicated as the POW/MIA Memorial Highway by authority of Wisconsin Act 396, honoring all prisoners of war, ex-prisoners of war, and those currently or were formerly missing-in-action in which the United States has engaged.
Date of dedication: May 1987
Who Put it Here?: City of Park Falls
Description of Memorial:
The eagle is visible from the highway and quite large, very easy to see.
Wars mentioned (Multi-war only): Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Visited Logs must contain, at least, a picture of the monument and your GPSr. Preferably YOU at the monument with your GPSr, but we understand that some people are camera-shy.
It is suggested you please include something about your visit here, as well.