Homer Daehn

A native of Central Wisconsin, Homer Daehn's passion for working with wood began thirty years ago. Training in mechanical drawing and woodworking led to his first work as a craftsman of fine furniture and cabinetry. In the early 1980s, Homer's vision of carving fine art took him to the sea where he sailed for three years and served as a ship's carpenter on the "Red Lion," a half-scale replica of a 1597 Dutch merchant square-rigger vessel. The sea has made carvers of carpenters for centuries. It did the same for Homer. Sailing through the Great Lakes and down the Atlantic, Homer spent time rigging, woodworking, fixing sails and carving. By the end of his journey, Homer was skilled enough to be hired under the tutelage of Roy Burman, a boat builder and master of the trade. For the next eight years, Homer worked building ship's wheels, yard arms, masts and carving in the evenings.

In 1988, Homer learned of Circus World Museum and its efforts at wagon restoration. Impressed with the museum's extensive wagon collection, a deep desire to carve for them began to grow. Homer pursued the Museum, asking if they needed a professional carver. Finally in 1991, the opportunity arrived to restore the United States Bandwagon. Using original photographs and transparencies, Homer worked in cooperation with the Circus World Museum Wagon Shop. The project took eighteen months, and in the end, Homer had carved eighty feet of scroll work, two horse and riders, and intricate splash boards and mud boards. He built columns and capitals, designed archways, and restored a maiden. Since that time, Homer has worked on eighteen wagons. All have been featured in the Great Circus Parade. Homer finds great satisfaction in watching the faces of children light up as the restored wagons pass by.

Now recognized for his detail and skill, Homer is sought after for commissions. Recent works have included a life-sized James Dean; a full-sized carousel horse; individual horse heads; and work for Ella's Deli; and for the Wisconsin State Capitol. Always expanding his vision, Homer is currently sculpturing an outdoor commission featuring life-size whimsical faces peeking out from tree branches. You can find Homer at work in his studio on the second floor at 4th and Oak in Baraboo. His lifelong commitment to bringing fine wood to life through imagination, research, skill and genuine hard work is obvious when you visit his studio and talk with him.

The talent of wood carver Homer Daehn is featured on the back of restored United States #47 Tableau. Circus World Museum was awarded grant funds in 2001 for the creation of the historically accurate carvings on the back doors of the wag