Madison Public Library is hosting a Native American Storyteller-in-Residence program led by Ho-Chunk Nation member and storyteller Andi Cloud. From December 1-10, Cloud invites Madison residents to hunt for a hand-made medallion in City of Madison parks.
“Medallion hunts aren’t common in the Ho-Chunk culture, but they are common in my family,” said Cloud. “My Tega Tracy has put on many medallion hunts for the family at our holiday gatherings. He has also organized medallion hunts for Ho-Chunk Nation tribal members and employees. I asked him to put together this hunt for the city and library friends because I thought it would be a fun way to encourage family, friends, co-workers, etc. to share in some fun and team work, as well as enjoy the outdoors despite the cooler weather!”
The clear, acrylic medallion has the Great Seal of the Ho-Chunk Nation engraved and is hidden within a City of Madison public park. Clues are published below, starting Wednesday, December 1, 2021. A new clue will appear daily through Friday, December 10, 2021, unless the medallion is found before that date. The medallion is above ground, so there is no need to dig (unless there’s snow!) or use metal detectors. The person who finds the medallion first will be able to take it home as a prize, in addition to a $50 gift card.
Inspiration for the medallion hunt comes from The Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt, which takes place annually in St. Paul, Minnesota.
2021 Winner: Peter Kirschmann!
Peter Kirschmann found the 2021 Medallion on Thursday, December 2 during a lunchtime walk:
"My friend Carrie tipped me off that some of the numbers in today's clue corresponded to bus stops along James Madison Park. So I went and looked where there might be workers, from yesterday's clue. First wandering around the boat house, then the BCycle station, and finally found it hiding in the lifeguard stand."
Congratulations to Peter for his excellent sleuthing! See below for all of the clues and their explanations.
Thank You
We want to extend our gratitude to Andi Cloud and her Tega Tracy Thundercloud for creating this fun Medallion Hunt! Tracy put A LOT of time and effort into crafting these thoughtful clues and explaining their meaning and we appreciate his hard work in preparing an interactive winter activity for all of Madison to enjoy!
Clues
Day One (December 1):
As a UW student you may get heartburn
In search of the fortune that you seek.
The closer you get to the prize at this station
The working girl wearing primary colors looks like a geek
Eventually you become the graduate of the great badger nation.
Day Two (December 2)
Decipher the following when you read the clue
One, one, three, eight and zero, seven, five two.
Think of the numbers as you search and stop
On and off you will stop.
Day Three (December 3)
Nearby the medallion you will find
Playgrounds, volley and basketball courts
Paths for walking or running to ease your mind
Plenty of water if you are out of sorts.
Day Four (December 4)
This nursery rhyme by an American teacher/author is sound
With the modern version is sung in a round.
The oldest sport at the U is not what you expect
You can utilize your computer we suspect.
Day Five (December 5)
This five-story structure of glass brick and mortar you will see
To partner there, you will need an advanced degree.
Five thousand sweets can be at this address
Seeking advice when your business life is a mess.
Day Six (December 6)
This structure was built in eighteen sixty-threes
Nineteen seventy-one relocation was done.
The great seal adjoins map makers among the trees
Complete your search before the setting sun.
Day Seven (December 7)
The city founding father did map and was no lark
The street names surrounding our landmark
Pass by routes are two, five, twenty-eight and eighty-one
Gets you closer to our medallion search we begun.
Day Eight (December 8)
We are traveling to the isthmus and must ask
What ties Franklin and Hamilton together with our task?
Why do men do tar? Owing to this thingamabob
Would it not be better to join the club as not as a job.
Day Nine (December 9)
Join the Madison Public Library
As a library guest.
Maybe you can find our medallion before January
Ending this little quest.
Search the public trails and parks
Madison has to offer one and all.
Adventure out and enjoy the city landmarks.
Do not dig below the earth’s surface is our call.
In your search we ask that you be respectful
Seek out as one or as a team to have fun
Of course, we hope this was eventful
Noting your participation to the end of this run.
Day Ten (December 10)
Here is the final clue to complete our medallion hunt
By now with the clues you should be in James Madison Park
Halfway between Foley and Lardner/Mendota Rowing Club’s lakefront
Intersect on a map where Franklin and Blount would be, is our mark
You will find the Ho-Chunk Nation Great Seal medallion at this spot.
Clue Explanations
Day One, Explained:
Heartburn, The Fortune, The Closer, Working Girl, Primary Colors, The Graduate are movie titles by Mike Nichols. The Nichols Station Apartments are across from James Madison Park.
Day Two, Explained:
The Madison Metro Bus line has bus stops 1138 and 0752 that stop on Gorham Street on either side of James Madison Park. You normally hop on and off the bus when you reach your bus stop.
Day Three, Explained:
All parks within the City of Madison have playgrounds, volleyball courts, basketball courts along with paths for walking or running with or without their pets. Plenty of water in this clue is Lake Mendota which many people stop and rest and look over the city landscape and Lake Mendota.
Day Four, Explained:
The nursery rhyme is “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” published by Eliphalet Oram Lyte who was a teacher and author. The song is sung in the round. The oldest sport at the University of Wisconsin is rowing. The Mendota Rowing Club is nearby James Madison Park.
Day Five, Explained:
This five-story structure can be seen by the medallion site which is the building of the Law Firm of Foley and Lardner with the address of 150 E Gilman Suite 5000.
Day Six, Explained:
The Gates of Heaven synagogue was built in 1863 at a location within downtown Madison. It was relocated in 1971 to its present location on Gorham Street as part of the land of James Madison Park. “Adjoins map makers” is an anagram for James Madison Park. The clear acrylic medallion has the Great Seal of the Ho-Chunk Nation engraved.
Day Seven, Explained:
The City of Madison founding father, James Doty purchased the 1,261 acres of land and named his future city Madison after the fourth President of the United States. The street names around the Capitol Building were named after the 39 individuals that signed the United States Constitution. Bus routes passing James Madison Park are 2, 5, 21 and 81.
Day Eight, Explained:
We are going to the isthmus where James Madison Park is located, with the medallion hidden at the imaginary juncture where Franklin Street and Blount Street would meet in James Madison Park. “men do tar? Owing” spells Mendota Rowing.
Day Nine, Explained:
The medallion is in one of the many trails and parks the City of Madison has to offer. To find the medallion you did not have to dig below the earth surface as the medallion was laying above ground on the lifeguard stand. We hope you had fun as a one-person team or as a family event. The real clue was James Madison spelled out by the first letters along the left edge of the clues.
Day Ten, Explained:
Clue ten finally pinpoints the exact location of the clear acrylic medallion with the Great Seal of the Ho-Chunk Nation engraved. You are along the shores of Lake Mendota halfway between the Foley and Lardner building and the Mendota Rowing Club. You should also be between Franklin Street and Blount Street in James Madison Park where the medallion was located.