Washburn in Bayfield County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Madeline Island

Photographed by Paul F

1. Madeline Island Marker

Inscription. To the east is Madeline Island, known to the Ojibway as Moning-wunakauning, “The Home of the Golden Breasted Woodpecker.” The French soldier Pierre le Sueur built his post there in 1693. In 1718 a fort was erected which remained France’s principal fur-trading post on Lake Superior until New France fell to the English. In 1793 Michel Cadotte established a trading post and began permanent settlement. When Equaysayway, daughter of Chief White Crane and a member of the Ojibway aristocracy, married Michel Cadotte, she was given the Christian name “Madeleine.” Her pleased father declared the island should be named in her honor.

Erected 1956 by State Historical Society of Wisconsin. (Marker Number 49.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1693.

Location. 46° 43.293′ N, 90° 52.38′ W. Marker is in Washburn, Wisconsin, in Bayfield County. It is on State Highway 13 north of Burlager/Bodin Road, on the right when

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traveling north. The marker is located 2.3 miles north of Washburn. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Washburn WI 54891, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Wisconsin’s North Shore. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Corn Belt,

and on Lake Superior’s South Shore Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Washburn, The Monolith City (approx. 3.4 miles away); Bank of Washburn (approx. 3½ miles away); Washburn Lumbering Days / The Hines Lumber Company (approx. 4 miles away); Washburn Historic Waterfront (approx. 4 miles away); The Sprague Well (approx. 4.1 miles away); Michel Cadotte (approx. 4.8 miles away); Site of First Catholic Church (approx. 5½ miles away); La Pointe Indian Cemetery (approx. 5.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map

Photographed by Paul F, September 22, 2010

2. Madeline Island Marker

of all markers in Washburn.

Photographed by Paul F, September 22, 2010

3. Madeline Island Marker

Turn off along Hwy 13.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 3,180 times since then and 56 times this year. Last updated on October 30, 2022, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. Photos: 1. submitted on May 18, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 2, 3. submitted on September 28, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.