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Tree Stump River Rat.

Tree Stump River Rat

Field review by the editors.

Merrill, Wisconsin

A "river rat" is a lumberjack who floats logs down a river. This blocky, full-color version wears green waders, a red flannel shirt, yellow suspenders, and a hat. His boots are joined to the white pine tree stump from which he was carved.

Harry Wallace chainsawed this particular River Rat in 2020. It's sheltered in an upright glass box to help it survive; previous River Rat carvings -- and they have stood here for decades -- have all rotted away. Harry has himself carved three of them.

Tree Stump River Rat

Address:
106 1st St., Merrill, WI
Directions:
West side of town, on the north side of WI-64/1st St., just west of the library and just east of the little bridge across the Prairie River.
Hours:
Lit at night. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
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Nearby Offbeat Places

Chicken Holding Burger, BeerChicken Holding Burger, Beer, Merrill, WI - 7 mi.
Big Bull MooseBig Bull Moose, Tomahawk, WI - 18 mi.
Exact Center of the Northern Half of the Western HemisphereExact Center of the Northern Half of the Western Hemisphere, Poniatowski, WI - 19 mi.
In the region:
Paul Bunyan and Babe, Minocqua, WI - 49 mi.

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