Time period/Baraboo: 1973 to present
Submitted by: International Crane Foundation

Inspired by the elegance and plight of endangered cranes, two enthusiastic graduate students, George Archibald and Ron Sauey, founded the International Crane Foundation (ICF) in Baraboo in 1973. Ron and George’s dream was to save the world’s cranes, and that idea has been the driving behind ICF ever since. For nearly five decades, their vision has given flight to grassroots conservation efforts around the world with a network of passionate leaders committed to the preservation of landscapes critical to the survival of cranes, people and a wealth of biological diversity. Cranes truly are ambassadors for conservation – serving as flag ships for some of the most important places on earth.