An Emerald Isle Joins the Crown STEPHEN MATHER WAS a MAN of Wilds of the Country, Even with New Roads High Standards
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National Park Service Your Guide to Isle Royale National Park U.S. Department of the Interior www.nps.gov/isro An Emerald Isle Joins the Crown STEPHEN MATHER WAS A MAN OF wilds of the country, even with new roads high standards. He had to be. As first and available automobiles. To gain traction director of the National Park Service, he for his fledgling agency, he needed to WELCOME TO ISLE ROYALE had every Congressman this side of Canada strike a fine balance: find beauty in areas clamoring to have a national park in his accessible to cities, but not too accessible. A seventy-fifth anniversary deserves a own backyard. It was the Jazz Age, the Mather’s road-building and entertainment- celebration. How do we best commemorate 1920s, and the National Park Service was in providing campaigns had offended some this big occasion for one of the “jewels” of the National Park System? A milestone the spotlight. Home from the war, soldiers of the staunchest supporters of outdoor anniversary is a time to reflect upon years and citizens had their first opportunities recreation. By the mid-1920s, he needed to past, but is also a time to look ahead, to to go exploring in their own automobiles, deliver a park that would maintain the Park consider whether or not we might do better, and Mather wanted them to come to the Service’s highest standards of grandeur and to envision the shape of the future. national parks. A nationwide publicity while reaching a new geographic region campaign, combined with an expanding and appealing to the primitivists who felt Directing future action takes advance network of roads, put our nation’s that national parks had become too much planning. Three planning efforts will playgrounds on display. spectacle. It was in this state of searching be underway in 2015 (see page 3.) Visitor involvement and comments are critical to and culling that articles by Detroit News Yellowstone, Yosemite and Grand Canyon these processes. I invite you to participate, journalist Albert Stoll, describing the were some of the first jewels in the Park to add your name to the roll call of park Service crown. To those, Mather was primeval beauty of a Michigan island, advocates who have helped polish and care working to add more that would equal reached Mather’s desk. for this gem of a park. their grandeur and splendor. He envisioned Mather’s interest was piqued. In the summer Even if you don’t join the planning eff orts, parks that would spread across the nation— of 1924, an enthusiastic group of wealthy let me know your vision for Isle Royale not just across the West. But in selecting his Michigan businessmen, island landholders National Park for its centennial in 2040 next rubies and emeralds, he had to choose and island residents gave Mather a boat or send a photo and story from your carefully. A wrong selection would tarnish tour that would change Isle Royale’s history. scrapbook of Island memories. Our partner, the entire system. One counterfeit jewel and After just a few days aboard the boat, the the National Parks of Lake Superior the rest would come into question. island had worked its magic on Mather, and Foundation, will share them so others Senators, governors and businessmen he declared that it would make “the fi nest can gain understanding of the lasting from across the United States brought him water and trail park that I can think of.” He connections this park makes. suggestions. Lake Tahoe and the Badlands returned to Washington invigorated by his Philanthropy has always played a role in of North Dakota he turned down because experience and began campaigning for the providing quality park experiences. A major they were too full of private holdings. Mt. island’s conversion to national park status. donation from National Park Concessions, Adams and Mt. Hood were too much like It was an uphill battle, and one he did not Inc., allowed us to move towards a more Mt. Rainier and didn’t bring variety to the live to see come to fruition. Stephen Mather sustainable and quiet future as we switch to system. And Lake Chelan in Washington, died in 1930, the year before Congress solar power at Rock Harbor and Windigo. the Wasatch in Utah and the Big Horns in authorized the park and ten years shy of If you are planning a trip, please consider Wyoming? They seeing the island join the crown in 1940. joining us for a celebration of both the 75th just didn’t meet But he was instrumental in getting it on and sustainability on August 22, 2015. his standards. this path, and may have even become the The jewels that make up the National Printing of He suggested namesake of this park if the designation had Park Service are our shared legacy and The Greenstone state park-hood come sooner. When you feast your senses are the responsibility of each succeeding courtesy of the instead. on Isle Royale, you are enjoying one of the generation. Celebrate this park’s first Isle Royale and last jewels in Stephen Mather’s crown, and seventy-fi ve years by remembering the past But while looking Keweenaw Parks the fi rst ever from the Midwest. and contemplating Association for that next This year the park marks the 75th anniversary the future, but most jewel, Mather of all by making the had to keep of its establishment. Join in the celebrations of this “Greenstone Jubilee” by raising a glass, journey to visit this one important heirloom in person. factor in mind. or water bottle, to toast the many people who Not everyone in made this national park possible. Phyllis Green Superintendent America could Amalia Tholen Baldwin or would travel Former Isle Royale park ranger to the remote and author of Becoming Wilderness 4 Interpretive Activities 5 – 8 Trip Planning 11 Transport & Fees 12 Publications Educational programs and guided tours about Pull-out map with information on Ferry schedules and daily fees. Books and maps provided the natural and cultural history of the park. Leave No Trace, hiking, camping, Changes to Use Fee Collection for 2015 through the Isle Royale and fi shing, canoeing, kayaking and boating. Keweenaw Parks Association. ....................... ....................... ..................... Did You Know? Although a seventy-fifth anniversary gift is conventionally a diamond, it seems more appropriate to celebrate Isle Royale’s jubilee with its iconic gemstone – a form of pumpellyite known as the green-star- Contacts stone, or Isle Royale greenstone. What do you know about Isle Royale’s most famous mineral? 1) Is Isle Royale greenstone the offi cial Michigan state rock? Isle Royale National Park 800 E. Lakeshore Drive 2) The Greenstone Ridge, which forms the backbone of the island, is part of the largest lava fl ow on earth. Houghton, MI 49931-1869 What are your chances of spotting an Isle Royale greenstone while hiking this trail? Phone: 906-482-0984 Fax: 906-482-8753 3) When lava cools, gas bubbles become trapped - forming cavities in the solid rock. Later, these vesicles Website: www.nps.gov/isro may become filled with deposits of various minerals – such as Isle Royale greenstone. What is the E-mail for General Information: [email protected] geologic term for lava rock that contains these fi lled-in vesicles? (Hint: An islet on the park’s north Emergency use only: shore bears this name.) (440) 546-5945 or toll free 1-800-433-1986 4) Before Isle Royale became a national park, this “big name” in jewelry sent representatives to the island on buying trips to purchase Isle Royale greenstones (Hint: you wouldn’t have lunch or dinner there!) Isle Royale and Keweenaw law. by protected are water) in and land on (both boundaries park Parks Association within minerals and rocks other all and greenstones Today any’s. Tiff 4) (Books, Maps, DVDs and Posters) 800 East Lakeshore Drive shape almond to refers which Amygdaloid, 3) Houghton, MI 49931-1869 ows. fl lava Phone: 800-678-6925; 906-482-3627 of tops the with associated is greenstone mineral The ow. fl lava the Website: of center the along travels trail Ridge Greenstone The zero. About 2) www.irkpa.org E-mail: 1972. in gemstone state cial offi the made was greenstone [email protected] Royale Isle but rock, state the is coral) (fossil stone Petoskey 1) ANSWERS Rock Harbor Lodge ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Summer P. O. Box 605 Houghton, MI 49931-0605 Phone: 906-337-4993 The quality of beauty of this little gem is Winter Rock Harbor Lodge, P. O. Box 27, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259-0027 unique. Nowhere in the United States can there Toll-Free Reservations: 866-644-2003 Phone: 270-758-2001 be found such a peculiar type of scenic brilliancy Website: www.RockHarborLodge.com E-mail: as that found on or about Isle Royale. [email protected] Dr. Frank Oastler in his report to the National Park Service in 1929 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Weather Forecasts for Isle Royale www.crh.noaa.gov/mqt Forever Resorts: Rock Harbor and Windigo Weather Radio Forecasts • 162.400 MHz from Lakeside Lodge Rooms Windigo Store and Marina Houghton, Michigan. Sixty rooms are available; each accommodates four Off ers groceries, cold sandwiches, camping supplies, • 162.475 MHz from and off ers private bath. Open 6/9 through night of 9/11. stove fuel, daily fi shing licenses and tackle, gifts and photo Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. supplies. The marina off ers gasoline, pump-out service, and Housekeeping Cabins motorboat, canoe and kayak rental. Shower and laundry Keweenaw Convention and Twenty duplex cottages accommodate six and are facilities available.