Rhinelander folklore
The monster behind the merchandise.
The Hodag is a tall tale with an unusually long life: born from showmanship, adopted by a town, and still prowling Wisconsin culture more than a century later.
- 1893
- Timber cruiser Eugene Shepard introduced the Hodag story in Rhinelander. The fearsome creature belongs to Northwoods tall-tale tradition, not zoology.
- Later
- Shepard displayed a constructed specimen, helping the story travel. The prop was part of the performance—not proof of an animal.
- Today
- Rhinelander embraces the Hodag in public art, events, stories, and generations of Wisconsin memory.
Learn more from the Wisconsin Historical Society (opens in a new tab) and the Rhinelander Chamber (opens in a new tab).