Gygax Memorial Fund Initiatives
The Gygax Memorial Fund, through a series of initiatives, is seeking community engagement in recognizing the accomplishments and the legacy of Gary Gygax and his contributions to the City of Lake Geneva and the world.
Every year thousands of fans travel through Lake Geneva on a pilgrimage to the birthplace of D&D® and the hometown of its creator, Gary Gygax. But previously there was little here for them to connect to, certainly nothing that would encourage them to spend a whole day in town, let alone an overnight stay. However, implementation of the Gygax Memorial Fund Initiatives is changing that. Now fans are able to engage with the town, spend the day exploring, visit shops, support local businesses, and stay one or two nights in local hotels, because now Lake Geneva is a destination for them.
We have implemented initiatives #1-8 and are working on the 9th and final one as outlined below (click on title of each for details):
#1) Gary Gygax Day: COMPLETED! On the 24th of July, the Mayor and City Council declared Gary Gygax's birthday, July 27th as “Gary Gygax Day” in Lake Geneva. The first ever Gary Gygax Day in Lake Geneva was celebrated by dedicating the Gygax Park Bench (see next) in his memory.
#2) Gygax Park Bench: COMPLETED! On Gary Gygax's birthday, July 27th, 2023, we dedicated a park bench located at the far west end of Library Park near the Shore Path in memory of Gary Gygax; donated by the Gygax Memorial Fund to the City of Lake Geneva.
#3) Gary Gygax's Appendix N Alcove: COMPLETED! On August 10th, 2023 we dedicated a permanent exhibit at the Lake Geneva Public Library of over one hundred literary works that inspired Gary Gygax's design of Dungeons & Dragons®. Additionally, an impressive throne-like chair was donated to the library for readers to sit in the Alcove and read some of Gary’s favorite books.
#4) The Wizard of Lake Geneva™: COMPLETED! On October 14th, 2023, in cooperation with the Geneva Lake Museum we opened The Wizard of Lake Geneva™ exhibit at the Geneva Lake Museum to the public. The exhibit features Lake Geneva’s most famous son, Gary Gygax, his accomplishments and legacy, and his connection to the City of Lake Geneva.
#5) GEN CON Founder Stone & Sign: COMPLETED! On August 24th, 2023, the 55th Anniversary of GEN CON®, we laid a stone at Horticultural Hall commemorating the founding of GEN CON® by Gary Gygax and presented a mock-up of an interpretive sign that will hopefully, one day, stand outside Horticultural Hall as a permanent exhibit. The sign will let all who read it learn about Gary Gygax's founding of GEN CON® on the site in 1968 and how it is now North America's largest tabletop gaming convention with 70,000+ attendees annually.
#6) Adventurer's Map of Lake Geneva: COMPLETED! On September 26th, 2023, a walking tour map of Lake Geneva featuring the locations important to Gary's history in Lake Geneva—was dedicated at 2 pm at 330 Center Street, The Birthplace of D&D®! We also presented 330 Center St. with a mock-up of an interpretive sign that will one day, stand out front to inform visitors about the history of the house as the The Birthplace of D&D®!
#7) 330 Center St.—The Birthplace of D&D®: COMPLETED! On October 12th, 2023, the Gygax Memorial Fund donated a 6 foot by 10 foot sand table and an array of figures to 330 Center St.—The Birthplace of D&D®! The sand table is a replica of the table used by Gary and his friends to playtest the CHAINMAIL fantasy war gaming rules, much of which would be later be incorporated into D&D®!
#8) Dragon Days™: COMPLETED! On October 13th (Friday the 13th!) we opened the 1st annual DRAGON DAYS™, The Fantasy Crossroads of the World Festival. This city-wide event was a 3-day festival in the City of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, celebrating the accomplishments and legacy of Gary Gygax and his contributions to Lake Geneva and the world. Our next DRAGON DAYS™ will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of D&D® on September 27th-29th, 2024! Check the DRAGON DAYS™ website for more details by clicking here: DRAGON DAYS™.
#9) Gygax Memorial: The Gygax Memorial Fund is currently engaged with the City of Lake Geneva to place a memorial to Gary Gygax at the far west end of Library Park. The memorial will be a simple stone table with a bronze statue of Gary seated at one end, where players can gather around to play a game of Dungeons & Dragons®. On February 20th, 2024 the City of Lake Geneva’s Board of Park Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the placement of the Gygax Memorial at the west end of Library Park.