WASHINGTON ISLAND SCENIC HISTORY TOUR addition to the building, there was a beach, a barn and a park. The purpose of the kitchens enable local residents with an entrepreneurial spirit to prepare their own Next stop is the Veblen Cabin seated near“Little Lake”. Leave Schoolhouse Beach organization was: “To provide and maintain a social center for the people of recipes and make their own products ready for sale to the public. And with the through the cemetery and turn right onto Jackson Harbor Road. Just a block west, Welcome to Washington Island’s Scenic History Tour! During the next Washington Island”. planting of lavender in the fields, a new lavender shop was opened on the first floor turn right onto Main Road. Then veer left onto Little Lake Road. Traveling about a 22 miles, we will guide you through beautiful scenic and meaningful of the Dairy in 2013, thus returning the Dairy to its historic role as an incubator for mile, on your right you will see the Jen Jacobsen Museum and Veblen Cabin. historic locations on Washington Island. As we share this wonderful The first officers of the organization were elected on October 13, 1946. Over each business on Washington Island. community we call home, look forward to the wave of a hand, as we of the next two years door to door canvases were held to raise the annual mortgage Veblen Cabin - Site #18 say, “Welcome Home”. payments. In 1952, a group of Island homeowners from Chicago held fundraising When you are ready, leave the heavenly aroma of the lavender fields behind, turn left dinner parties in Chicago and donated the profits to help pay off the mortgage. By from the Dairy parking lot, going north onto Range Line Road. Turn right at the first From 1896 to 1926, the world-famous economist Thorstein Veblen spent his Introduction 1954, the mortgage was paid off and there were sufficient funds to hire a summer stop sign, Jackson Harbor Road, and continue east to Mountain Tower Road. Turn summers on Washington Island. He initially came to the Island to learn Icelandic. director for the park. The Chicago Island Party was held annually for many years to right to Mountain Tower Park. He built a study cabin near the shore of Little Lake. Veblen wrote a number of books Washington Island is a 6 mile by 5 mile rectangle, about 30 square miles and provide continued support for swim lessons and a summer director. A great many during his lifetime including, The Theory of the Leisure Class, published in 1899, 30,000 acres in size. It is roughly the same size as Manhattan. Many of the people Islanders have fond memories of learning to swim or participating in boat races at seeking to apply Darwin’s evolutionism to the study of modern economic life. who settled on the island were Scandinavian immigrants, especially Icelanders. this beach. A raft was built in 1974. Mountain Tower Park - Site #10 Today, Washington Island is one of the oldest Icelandic communities in the United Jen Jacobsen Museum and Cabin - Site #19 States. Volunteers put in long hours at the Community House cleaning, repairing and Mountain Tower Park is the highest point on the Island. Climb the 286 steps and painting, and continued to improve the building by building a small stage and you will see a number of surrounding islands, the largest and closest of which is A log cabin, owned by Dane, Jens Jacobsen in the early 1900s, and located on the Historically called “Potawatomi Island” between 1650 and 1815, local fisherman rais-ing the ceiling for basketball. Recreational events held at the Community House Rock Island State Park. The distant islands you can see are all part of Michigan. south shore of Little Lake, sits next to the Jens Jacobsen Museum. and craftsmen living close to Washington Harbor gradually referred to the entire included plays, roller skating, variety shows, talent shows, dances, public meetings island as Washington Island and, as noted in the census of 1850, the name has and occasional lectures. It was even used for church services for denominations Travel back north to Jackson Harbor Road and turn right (east) onto Jackson Built in 1931, the Jens Jacobson Museum houses a collection of natural and remained. In July of 1816, on its way to a new US fort in Green Bay, the schooner without their own building. The Island Fair was held here. In 1956 a concrete stage Harbor Road. Continue on Jackson Harbor Road, and follow the signs to the historical artifacts from the area, including ship models hand-carved by Jacobsen Washington anchored in a bay on the north side of the Island where the crew named was poured east of the Red Barn for the Scandinavian Dance Festival and plays. Washington Island Maritime Museum and Town Dock. himself. Outside the museum you will find large artifacts salvaged years ago from the harbor in honor of President Washington, who had died in December of 1799. Tennis courts were added the same year. The old ice house was renovated into an area shipwrecks. American Youth Hostel. Washington Island Maritime Museum Washington Island is northeast of the Door County peninsula and Death's Door and Town dock at Jackson Harbor - Site #11 Little Lake - Site #20 passage. “Death’s Door” is the name given to the six-mile-wide passage between In 1969 a new Community Center was built on Main Road. The seventy five year Lake Michigan, to the east and Green Bay to the west. The name was translated by old Community House at this location was torn down. The Red Barn, the Ice House Welcome to one of the last remaining commercial fishing ports on Lake Michi- Little Lake is the only inland lake located on Washington Island and is 24 acres in French explorers as "Porte des Morts" or “Death’s Door” because of the challenging and beach continue to be used. gan. Today, commercial fishermen head out each morning to haul in the daily catch. size with a maximum depth of nearly six feet. This small lake was formed thousands waves and unpredictable water currents that claimed canoes and schooners. Most of their catch is consumed on Washington Island in local restaurants. But that of years ago as a shallow bay was slowly closed off from Green Bay by sand and Gislason Beach was renovated in the summer of 2013 with new sand, new beach was not always the case. Fishing has been a crucial industry for the Island and for gravel deposits. Geologically, we sit on the very western edge of the Niagara Escarpment, the grass and new signage. Once again, scores of Island children and visitors are able to the State of Wisconsin for over 100 years. In 1900, commercial fisherman on Lake eastern edge of which is Niagara Falls. For those non-geologists among us, an enjoy the delight of a sandy beach. The beach also serves as host to the Washington Michigan caught an average of 41 million pounds of fish annually. Peoples Park - Site #21 escarpment is a transition from one series of sedimentary rocks to another series of Island Canoe and Kayak race. This race around the Island is held annually on the rocks of a different age and composition. They generally connect coastal lowlands third Saturday in June, with participating kayakers from around the By the 1930’s and 1940, with the advent of refrigerated rail and trucking, fish Admire the scenic view west overlooking Green Bay while sitting at the picnic with continental plateaus. Our escarpment is what causes the topsoil of the Island to country. from Lake Michigan were sold as far away as New York City. The fishing industry tables or walking in the natural beauty under the limbs of the forest canopy. The be extremely rocky which has provided for many of the beautiful handmade stone on the Island continued strong through the 1980’s and grew especially important as sunset brings a spectrum of reddish hues in a bright blue sky reflected across the fences you will see as you tour the Island. Marina and Restaurant - Site #5 the potato industry declined. At one point, there were over 30 commercial fishermen waters. working out of Jackson Harbor. In the 1950’s, the fisherman caught mainly chub. There are 710 hearty souls who call the Island “home” on a full time basis. In the The Shipyard Marina restaurant is located in the original Jensen lumber Now, they fish for whitefish and lawyers, the name Islanders call burbot, which is a Travel back south along Little Lake Road and turn right onto Main Road. Just past summer, the population swells to approximately 3,000 residents and all of our warehouse next to the marina. In 1982 the Munao family purchased the Jensen ship mild white fish, much like a fresh water cod. Pay attention to the unique design of the Bethel Church on your right, is the Washington Island Art and Nature Center. wonderful visitors. Speaking of you, our guest, let’s continue with the tour. yards and docks, regularly updating and improving the boating and restaurant the boats, called fish tugs. It is a design that evolved over many years and is unique facilities. Today, boats of all kinds and makes are serviced and moored for sailors to the Great Lakes so often challenging conditions. Washington Island Art and Nature Center - Site #22 Washington Island Ferry Dock - Site #1 and visitors alike. Spend some time wandering through the Maritime museum. Pay particular In 1965, the Washington Island High School built in 1904, reopened as the Island After leaving the ferry, continue along Lobdell Point Road for about a mile.