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Artist Donald Lipski designed the monument as part of an effort to honor his alma mater and its name is a reference to the "tales" of his college roommate Eric "Nails" Nathan who informed the non-sports loving artist about the team's successes and heartbreaks. After Lipski was selected to create a monument, the artist worked with university administrators and discussed several designs including one that would resemble a tree and this one intended to represent an obelisk as a reference to the area's history as a former military training camp. As is sometimes the case with works of public art, many saw something different in the design than the artist intended and after years of complaints about the "phallic" appearance of the monument the university decided to place the monument in storage in 2019.

The artist intended the monument's obelisk design as a reference to the area's history as a former military camp

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Dedicated in 2005, this unique monument depicted an obelisk formed of footballs. The monument's design was not universally approved and after numerous derisive remarks by students and alumni, the administration decided to remove the monument in 2019. The monument might be rededicated in the future but is now located in storage. 

Nails Tale Monument (2005 to 2019)

Camp Randall is named after Alexander W. Randall, Wisconsin's first wartime governor. It served as a training camp for Wisconsin's Civil War soldiers starting on May 1, 1861. Eventually, over 70,000 of the state's 91,327 troops trained here at some point. In 1862, Camp Randall became a Prisoner of War Camp when approximately 1400 sick and wounded confederate soldiers were held here. Many succumbed to their wounds and are buried at "Soldiers' Rest", the northernmost confederate cemetery in the United States.After the war, outrage by veterans prevented the land being sold for building lots, and in 1893, the Wisconsin state legislature purchased the site and donated it to the university. Soldiers were quartered and trained at Camp Randall during World War I, and Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) trained here during World War II.When the university decided to build an athletic facility on the grounds, veterans groups wrote a petition to the university regents asking that the name always remain Camp Randall. The stadium at Camp Randall was first used in 1895 and the Badgers began a long tradition by defeating the University of Minnesota by a score of 6-0.Another interesting fact about Camp Randall is that the "1940" addition included dormitories named the Schreiner and Baumann houses. These were named after two University of Wisconsin students killed at Okinawa. These dorms were originally used to house naval trainees.

Camp Randall Stadium is an outdoor stadium in the north central United States, located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. It has been the home of Wisconsin Badgers football in rudimentary form since 1895, and as a fully functioning stadium since 1917. The oldest and fifth largest stadium in the Big Ten Conference, Camp Randall is the 41st largest stadium in the world, with a seating capacity of 80,321. Camp Randall Stadium is not named after the team or someone associated with the university. Camp Randall was an army base during the American Civil War and the Badgers stadium was built on its location.

Whitehorse joined the Navy in 1944 at the age of 16. He chose the Navy because his older brother was already serving in it. During his four years of service, he deployed to both the European and Pacific Theaters, where he was exposed to and inspired by the art of different nations and cultures. He returned home and used the G.I. Bill to study human and animal anatomy, oil painting, and welding and metal fabrication. And during his prolific career as an artist of multiple mediums, he earned critical acclaim and renown.  The Badger was one of Whitehorse’s last works. It was installed and dedicated in 2019, two years after he passed away at the age of 90. According to his wife, Deb, it reflects his love of animals and children, and also his belief that art is not meant to be kept out of reach, but to be enjoyed in an interactive way.

The Badger sculpture, located near Camp Randall is a must-see for Badger fans. The ten-foot long bronze sculpture is meant to be seen, touched, hugged, and even climbed on, making it a fun stop for both children and adults. The artist who created The Badger is Harry Whitehorse, a member of the Ho Chunk Nation and a World War II veteran. 

Whitehorse Badger Statue

Before the Civil War, the state fair was held on the grounds. When the war began in April 1861, Governor Alexander Randall secured the space to fulfill Wisconsin’s duty to train soldiers to defend the Union. Camp Randall also held Confederate prisoners during the Civil War. Guarded by the 19th Wisconsin Infantry, more than 1,200 were held here for two months in 1862. They had been captured at the Battle of Island Number 10, on the Mississippi River, near New Madrid, Missouri. Nearly 140 of the Confederate soldiers died at Camp Randall and are buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison.  After the war, the State Fair was again held on the grounds nine times until it was moved permanently to West Allis in 1892. Eventually, the buildings were torn down and sold for scrap. In 1893 the University of Wisconsin bought the grounds from the Wisconsin Agricultural Committee to use for athletic fields, grounds for student military drill and even agriculture.  The first football game was played on the site in 1895, a contest the Wisconsin Badgers 6-0 over the Minnesota Gophers. The beginnings of what we know as Camp Randall Stadium today was opened in 1917, making it the fourth oldest stadium in Division I college football.  When some of the land was planned to be diverted from university purposes, subdivided, and sold for home to be built, Madison’s Civil War veteran community objected. They felt that their memory and those of their comrades, their sacrifices and devotion, patriotism would be besmirched by turning this special place into just another street of houses. The state of Wisconsin bought the land on which old Camp Randall sat, set aside 6.5 acres for a Memorial Park, and sold the remainder to the university.

While today it is known as home of University of Wisconsin-Madison Badger football, Camp Randall got its name during the Civil War as the primary training camp for soldiers from our state. Of the 91,327 Wisconsin soldiers who fought, some 70,000 trained at Camp Randall.  
In 1912 a Memorial Arch was dedicated in their honor where Dayton Street meets Randall Avenue. The ceremony was the occasion for a reunion and celebration. Be sure to check out the other memorials related to Camp Randall’s Civil War past, including the guard house, Lincoln in Wisconsin sign, and the brown historic site marker.  

Camp Randall Stadium

Nails Tale Monument (2005 to 2019)

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