You might know that Lake Superior is the largest body of freshwater in the world, but did you know that it is large enough to generate its own small tide?
This tidal action, called "seiche,” influences Fish Creek. At times, water from Chequamegon . . . — — Map (db m201391) HM
Near Major Richard I. Bong/POW-MIA Memorial Highway (U.S. 2) 1 mile west of Turner Road.
VOICES IN THE MIST
When the mist turns a waltz along the shoreline, and swirls heavenward via convection, lend your ears to the bay. There are forms in the mist, and in the forms there are faces. The faces smile, and the hint of a melody plays . . . — — Map (db m201384) HM
"Bayfield is settling down to its regular winter's business... cord wood, pine logs, oak timber, steamboat wood and fish are the staple products, and the supply is unlimited."
- Bayfield County Press, November 28, 1877 Changing . . . — — Map (db m258915) HM
The Hokensons at Little Sand Bay were just one of many commercial fishing families in the area. This pound net boat came from Rocky Island where a community of fish camps was established in the 1930s. The Olsen, Erickson, Benson, Edwards, Hadland, . . . — — Map (db m258911) HM
On South 1st Street at Wilson Street, on the left when traveling south on South 1st Street.
You are standing at the “turning Point” for the Bayfield Waterfront Walk and across the water is a place of significance where “turning points” in history occurred. Madeline Island, or “Mooningwanekaaning Minis,” . . . — — Map (db m98243) HM
On Washington Avenue at North Front Street, on the left when traveling east on Washington Avenue.
Bayfield’s history has been powerfully shaped by its location. Situated on the shores of a deep, natural harbor, the city is sheltered from Lake Superior’s notorious storms by the outlying Apostle Islands. Lighthouses, shipwrecks, and a historic . . . — — Map (db m57835) HM
"The planting of millions of fish, with regulations governing the size, limiting the number to be taken each day, and the season that they may be taken from our waters will make it possible to maintain the fish supply for all time to come." . . . — — Map (db m258926) HM
"This is the best combination of cultural heritage and land management that I can think of."
Bob Krumenaker, Superintendent
In October 2017, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, in collaboration with the Red Cliff Band, Bad River Band . . . — — Map (db m201395) HM
"One could gather biographies of senior citizens around Lake Superior and find that nearly every individual engaged in multiple occupations in order to survive."
- Family Managed Commercial Fishing in the Apostle Islands, NPS Special . . . — — Map (db m258924) HM
On Front Street north of Rittenhouse Avenue, on the right when traveling north.
Dedicated in 1981 to the hard working commercial fishermen whose indomitable spirits will not be forgotten.
Commissioned by Edwin Erickson,
Mayor of Bayfield, 1970-1976 & 1980-1988
Designed by Harold Kerr (1909-1981)
Constructed by . . . — — Map (db m57811) HM
Near South 1st Street north of Manypenny Avenue, on the right when traveling north.
Pleasure boating grew hand-in-hand with boat clubs of the 1880s and 1890s.
Regattas and other competitions fostered growth in small sailing craft on Lake Superior. The first sailing regatta at Bayfield in 1899 offered a $100 prize.
Serious . . . — — Map (db m260378) HM
On South 1st Street at Wilson Street, on the right when traveling south on South 1st Street.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
In the waters off Outer Island lies the wreck of the Pretoria, one of the largest wooden vessels ever to sail the Great lakes. On September 1, 1905, Captain Charles Smart and nine crew . . . — — Map (db m98244) HM
On Washington Avenue at Front Street, on the left when traveling east on Washington Avenue.
At one time, a local fishery once encompassed this entire block. Early sailing vessels would bring their harvests here to be salt packed in barrels and shipped to market. Here in “The Cooperage,” one of the remaining buildings of that . . . — — Map (db m57810) HM
On State Highway 13 west of Siskiwit Falls Road, on the left when traveling east.
Once upon a time, according to an old Indian legend, the sand beach on the east side of this bay was a favorite camping ground. One spring a few lodges of Chippewa from La Pointe encamped here. When their chief, Bi-aus-wah, returned from the hunt, . . . — — Map (db m194929) HM
On Lenawee Road 0.1 miles south of Wisconsin Highway 13, on the left when traveling south.
When the community sought funding for a new gymnasium and town hall, they looked to the Work Progress Administration, a depression-era program, which utilized local materials and labor to create jobs for unemployed workers. Architect Roland C. Buck . . . — — Map (db m36553) HM
On Ino Road (Forest Road 236) at 407, on the left when traveling north on Ino Road.
In 1935 the Forest Service set aside the one square mile (640 acres) to the North of this point as a “natural area.” This area is administered for ecological research purposes to obtain a better understanding of the natural processes governing the . . . — — Map (db m215839) HM
On State Highway 13, on the right when traveling west.
The familiar sandstone outcroppings along Lake Superior's shoreline provided a popular building material for grand and massive structures all over the Midwest and Eastern United States throughout the last half of the Nineteenth and into the . . . — — Map (db m201591) HM
On State Highway 13 at Grand Avenue, on the right when traveling west on State Highway 13.
As the 20th century began, logging operations were in full swing in this area and the small log schoolhouses could not handle the increasing number of students. Some classes were held in churches but additional facilities were needed.
T.N. . . . — — Map (db m30845) HM
Near Little Sand Bay Road west of Allen Road, on the right when traveling west.
Leo, Roy, and Eskel Hokenson began fishing commercially at Little Sand Bay in the 1920s. During the fall herring season, the brothers fished at night when cooler temperatures helped preserve the catch. Noting this habit, friends began saying, . . . — — Map (db m258909) HM
On Little Sand Bay Road 0.5 miles west of Allen Road.
Harvesting the Waters
In 1927, the Hokenson brothers (Leo, Roy, and Eskel) began life as fishermen. For more than 30 years, they met the challenges of fishing the largest lake in the world, relying on their skills, strength, and . . . — — Map (db m46908) HM
Near Little Sand Bay Road 0.5 miles west of Allen Road.
Type: Steel, bulk and package freighter
Built: 1890, Frank W. Wheeler, Bay City, Mich.
Sank: September 2, 1905
Length: 372’ Beam: 41’
Cargo: Iron ore
Propulsion: Propeller
Depth of Wreckage: 25’
Lives Lost: 7
Listed on the . . . — — Map (db m46907) HM
On East Bayfield Street (State Highway 13) at Central Avenue, on the right when traveling south on East Bayfield Street.
The Bank of Washburn is a unique variation of the Romanesque Revival Style designed by architects Conover & Porter of Ashland, Wisconsin. Built in less than one year, the building was fashioned from brownstone quarried at Houghton Point located . . . — — Map (db m48439) HM
On State Highway 13 north of Burlager/Bodin Road, on the right when traveling north.
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 . . . — — Map (db m208926) HM
The Sprague Well, believed to be the first drilled artesian well in Bayfield County, was completed at 119 feet 8 inches in April, 1903 by Monroe H. Sprague at the mill office of the Akeley–Sprague Lumber Co. Flow from the 4 inch casing was . . . — — Map (db m57812) HM
Near 6th Avenue West south of Lakeview Drive, on the left when traveling south.
In the early days of Washburn, the waterfront was filled with saw mills. The A.A. Bigelow Mill (1887-1902), later to become the Hines Mill, was the largest of three major sawmills in Washburn. It rested on pilings that ran directly out from the . . . — — Map (db m122317) HM
Near 6th Avenue West south of Lakeview Drive, on the left when traveling south.
(side 1)
Washburn Lumbering Days
Washburn begins on the shoreline of Chequamegon Bay. The city rises gradually 75 ft. above level of the water. In 1884, the town was created, born of the necessity of the railway (Chicago, St. Paul, . . . — — Map (db m57824) HM
On East Bayfield Street (State Highway 13) at Central Avenue, on the right when traveling south on East Bayfield Street.
This title was given back in 1892 when Frederick Prentice, president of the Prentice Brownstone Co. of Wisconsin, offered to supply a huge brownstone monolith for the Wisconsin Exhibit at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. He proposed to furnish this . . . — — Map (db m48441) HM
