Near Boulder Junction in Vilas County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
First Forest Patrol Flight
Photographed By Keith L, September 13, 2010
1. First Forest Patrol Flight Marker
First Forest Patrol Flight was made from Trout Lake by Jack Vilas June 29, 1915. Vilas was commissioned "Official Aviator" by the Wisconsin State Board of Forestry (now Wisconsin Conservation Department) and on his own request received no salary other than "many thanks." During July and August, 1915, patrol flights were made almost daily in a Curtiss Flying Boat. Vilas had shipped his plane from Chicago to Trout Lake by train. In those days the 350 mile flight from Chicago would have taken several days and a crew of special mechanics following in a train, to keep the "flying machine" going. The flights from here by Jack Vilas marked the first time anywhere that an aircraft was used in detecting and locating forest fires and patrolling large forest areas.
Erected 1955 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 34.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Horticulture & Forestry
this page online
Location. 46° 3.811′ N, 89° 38.774′ W. Marker is near Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, in Vilas County. Marker can be reached from County Road M, 1.3 miles south of County Road K, on the right when traveling south. Marker is near the east shore of North Trout Lake at the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest Boat Landing. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Boulder Junction WI 54512, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Forest Restoration (approx. 1.2 miles away); Snowmobile (approx. 7.6 miles away); Devils Lake Vista Subcontinental Divide (approx. 9˝ miles away); Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb (approx. 11.9 miles away); World’s Largest Penny (approx. 11.9 miles away); The Million Penny Parade (approx. 11.9 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 12.2 miles away).
Also see . . .
1. Logan Archbold "Jack" Vilas. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on November 9, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Fire Management. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website entry (Submitted on September 21, 2010.)
via State Historical Society of Wisconsin Visual Archives, 1915
2. Jack Vilas, seated in the cockpit of his seaplane, c. 1915.
Photographed By Keith L, September 13, 2010
3. First Forest Patrol Flight Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 864 times since then and 189 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 21, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on November 9, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on September 21, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
