Imagine waking up, grabbing your coffee, and looking out over a frozen lake only to see the Statue of Liberty staring back at you. Not the whole thing, obviously. Just the crown, the forehead, and that iconic torch-bearing arm poking out from the ice like some surreal scene from Planet of the Apes.
It happened.
In February 1979, the students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison pulled off what is arguably the most legendary college prank in American history. They didn't just move a few chairs or wrap a building in foil. They "sunk" Lady Liberty in Lake Mendota.
Honestly, the backstory is even weirder than the visual. It wasn't just a random act of art. It was a fulfilled campaign promise from a group of students who called themselves the Pail and Shovel Party.
The Pail and Shovel Party: Are You Nuts Enough?
To understand why there was a statue in the water, you have to understand Leon Varjian and Jim Mallon. These guys weren't your typical student government types. They ran for office on a platform of pure, unadulterated absurdity. Their slogan? "Are you nuts enough?"
They promised to flood Camp Randall Stadium for mock naval battles. They wanted to turn the university budget into pennies and leave them in a pile so students could take what they needed with pails and shovels.
Most people laughed. Then, they voted.
The Pail and Shovel Party actually won. And unlike most politicians, they actually kept their most ridiculous promises. Well, some of them. While the naval battles never happened, the Statue of Liberty Lake Mendota stunt became their crowning achievement.
👉 See also: Why the Man Black Hair Blue Eyes Combo is So Rare (and the Genetics Behind It)
Building a Legend Out of Chicken Wire
They spent about $4,500 of student government money on the project. That’s roughly $18,000 in today's money. People were furious. Sixty students even demanded their student fees back.
In a move of peak pettiness, the Pail and Shovel Party issued those students refund checks for exactly 10 cents each.
The statue itself was a feat of DIY engineering. It wasn't copper. It was built in Music Hall using:
- Plywood frames
- Chicken wire
- Papier-mâché
- A lot of green paint
They hauled the pieces out onto the frozen lake under the cover of night. When the sun came up on February 22, 1979, the illusion was perfect. It looked like the massive monument had simply been dropped into the depths of Mendota, leaving only the top third visible above the ice.
Arson, Tornadoes, and the Second Coming
The original Lady of the Lake didn't last long. Just ten days after she appeared, an unknown arsonist set the papier-mâché structure on fire. It was a total loss.
But Varjian and Mallon didn't quit.
They saw the fire as an opportunity for a "funeral" and a rebirth. In 1980, they came back with Lady Liberty 2.0. This time, she was made of fireproof Styrofoam blocks coated in fiberglass. If you’re going to spend student money, you might as well make it arson-proof, right?
✨ Don't miss: Chuck E. Cheese in Boca Raton: Why This Location Still Wins Over Parents
The "Lost" Years in a Barn
After the Pail and Shovel Party's reign ended, the statue didn't just vanish—it went into exile. For over a decade, the Styrofoam head and arm sat in a professor’s barn in Barneveld, Wisconsin.
In 1984, a massive F5 tornado ripped through the area. It leveled buildings and killed nine people. Somehow, the statue survived, though she was pretty beat up.
It wasn't until 1996 that the Hoofers Sailing Club and some dedicated alumni dragged the pieces out of storage, cleaned off the cobwebs, and brought her back to the ice. It became a "once in a while" tradition. She’d pop up for the Winter Carnival, stay for a few days, and then disappear back into the shadows.
Why the Statue of Liberty Lake Mendota Still Matters
You might wonder why people still care about a Styrofoam head in a lake. It’s because it represents a specific kind of Midwestern defiance. It’s a middle finger to the self-seriousness of academia.
Jim Mallon, one of the original masterminds, actually went on to be a huge deal in comedy—he was one of the creators of Mystery Science Theater 3000. You can see that same DNA in the Mendota prank: the love of the "big gag" and the commitment to the bit.
The Modern Inflatable Era
The Styrofoam version finally bit the dust around 2011 after being vandalized during an installation attempt. It was just too fragile and heavy to keep fixing.
For nearly a decade, the lake was empty.
🔗 Read more: The Betta Fish in Vase with Plant Setup: Why Your Fish Is Probably Miserable
Then, in 2019, for the 40th anniversary, the Wisconsin Union decided to bring the tradition back for the annual Winter Carnival. But they got smart. Instead of heavy blocks and chicken wire, they commissioned a high-tech inflatable version.
This "Lady Liberty 3.0" is made of a durable polyester blend. It takes minutes to inflate instead of hours to assemble. It’s basically a giant, patriotic bouncy house without the floor.
How to See It Today
If you’re looking to catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty Lake Mendota, you have to time it right. It isn’t out there all winter.
- Check the Calendar: The statue typically only appears during the Wisconsin Union Winter Carnival, which usually happens in early February.
- Watch the Weather: Even the inflatable version has limits. If the wind is too high or the ice is too thin (a growing problem with shorter winters), they won't put her out.
- Head to the Terrace: The best view is right off the Memorial Union Terrace. You can walk right out onto the ice and stand next to her for a photo.
- Look for the Torch: Sometimes, the university only puts out the arm and torch if they’re worried about the setup time.
Facts vs. Fiction
Some people swear the original statue is still at the bottom of the lake. It’s not. It was burned and tossed. Others think the university owns the real molds used for the New York original. Also not true. It’s a scale replica, but it’s 100% a Madison original.
What started as a way to mock student politics turned into a symbol of the city. It’s weird, it’s expensive, it’s slightly nonsensical, and it’s exactly why Madison is Madison.
If you find yourself in town during the carnival, do yourself a favor. Walk out onto that ice. It’s one of those rare moments where life feels a little less serious, and a giant green lady rising from a frozen lake seems like the most logical thing in the world.
Actionable Next Steps
- Monitor the Wisconsin Union website starting in mid-January for the official Winter Carnival dates.
- Visit Alumni Park (right next to the Union) to see the permanent "Lady Liberty" exhibit that tells the full story of the Pail and Shovel Party.
- Check the Lake Mendota ice reports before heading out; "ice on" dates vary wildly, and safety is paramount before walking out to the statue.