The Possum Monument
The first Saturday of August
has been designated as
"Possum Day" in the Great
State of Florida.
The first Saturday of August
has been designated as
"Possum Day" in the Great
State of Florida.
The Possum Monument - Wausau, Florida
Washington County, Florida - The Possum Monument
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| The Possum Monument One of Florida's favorite roadside attractions can be seen on Highway 77 in Wausau. |
On the side of State Highway 77 in Wausau
stands what may well be Florida's most
unique roadside memorial - the Possum
Monument.
Unveiled in August of 1982, the unusual
monument pays tribute to the lowly possum
(or Opossum, as Northerners seem to
prefer). The inscription on the monument
says it all:
Erected in grateful recognition of the role the
North American possum, a magnificient
survivor of the marsupial family pre-dating
the ages of the mastodon and the dinosaur
has played in furnishing both food and fur for
the early settlers and their successors. Their
presence here has provided a source of
nutritious and flavorful food in normal times
and has been important aid to human
survival in times of distress and critical need.
In addition, as the monument inscription
notes, you might not be able to get
Democrats and Republicans together on
much in Florida, but on one thing they agree:
The 1982 session of the Florida Legislature
further recognized the possum by passing a
joint resolution proclaiming the first Saturday
in August as Possum Day in the Great State
of Florida.
Wausau, as you probably have guessed by
now, is the self-proclaimed "Possum Capital
of the World." In addition to the monument,
the community is home to the "Possum
Palace," a nice entertainment venue and the
home of the annual Fun Day and Possum
Festival.
The celebration is held, of course, on the
state designated "Possum Day" in Florida
(the first Saturday of August each year).
stands what may well be Florida's most
unique roadside memorial - the Possum
Monument.
Unveiled in August of 1982, the unusual
monument pays tribute to the lowly possum
(or Opossum, as Northerners seem to
prefer). The inscription on the monument
says it all:
Erected in grateful recognition of the role the
North American possum, a magnificient
survivor of the marsupial family pre-dating
the ages of the mastodon and the dinosaur
has played in furnishing both food and fur for
the early settlers and their successors. Their
presence here has provided a source of
nutritious and flavorful food in normal times
and has been important aid to human
survival in times of distress and critical need.
In addition, as the monument inscription
notes, you might not be able to get
Democrats and Republicans together on
much in Florida, but on one thing they agree:
The 1982 session of the Florida Legislature
further recognized the possum by passing a
joint resolution proclaiming the first Saturday
in August as Possum Day in the Great State
of Florida.
Wausau, as you probably have guessed by
now, is the self-proclaimed "Possum Capital
of the World." In addition to the monument,
the community is home to the "Possum
Palace," a nice entertainment venue and the
home of the annual Fun Day and Possum
Festival.
The celebration is held, of course, on the
state designated "Possum Day" in Florida
(the first Saturday of August each year).
The festival features a Possum Queen
contest, Possum Auction and a host of other
activities. Crowds numbering well into the
thousands have been known to attend.
For what it is worth, the Federal government
has also recognized Wausau's role in
honoring the possum. The Possum Palace
was funded by the U.S. Congress.
Although a lot of this is, of course, done in
fun, there is a real historical basis behind it.
Many families throughout the Deep South
survived the hard times of America's Great
Depression and other such disasters by
hunting possums and other wildlife for food.
If you've never tried them, baked possum and
sweet potatoes are delicacies never to be
forgotten!
The Possum Monument is located in
downtown Wausau on Highway 77, 10 miles
south of Chipley.
contest, Possum Auction and a host of other
activities. Crowds numbering well into the
thousands have been known to attend.
For what it is worth, the Federal government
has also recognized Wausau's role in
honoring the possum. The Possum Palace
was funded by the U.S. Congress.
Although a lot of this is, of course, done in
fun, there is a real historical basis behind it.
Many families throughout the Deep South
survived the hard times of America's Great
Depression and other such disasters by
hunting possums and other wildlife for food.
If you've never tried them, baked possum and
sweet potatoes are delicacies never to be
forgotten!
The Possum Monument is located in
downtown Wausau on Highway 77, 10 miles
south of Chipley.
The Honored Possum
A closer view of one of the
carvings on the Wausau
Possum Monument.
A closer view of one of the
carvings on the Wausau
Possum Monument.
