Wisconsin Historical Society unveils new memorial marker at State Fair Park

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- A dedication event took place in State Fair Park Monday, Oct. 17.

It was part of a three-year initiative to preserve underrepresented history in Wisconsin.

State Fair Park holds an important role in Native American history. 

The Ho-Chunk are one of many native nations in Wisconsin. Ancestors of the Ho-Chunk gathered in the area, naming it Tee Sisikeja, meaning "bad waters."

Burial sites were constructed for loved ones in the form of mounds. It's a practice dating back more than 2,500 years. But out of the tens of thousands of burial mounds made in Wisconsin, only a few thousand remain.

On Monday, the Wisconsin Historical Society and an officer from the Ho-Chunk nation unveiled a new memorial marker, one that details the rich history of Bad Waters village. 

"I appreciate the opportunity that we, as one tribe, speaking towards the protection of these mounds," said Bill Quackenbush, tribal historic preservation officer. "The educational opportunities that we still practice within our own people."

Monday's dedication marked the 600th state historical marker to be put up in Wisconsin.

The marker asks visitors to be respectful when walking through the burial site.