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48-400: The community of La Pointe , located on the western edge of the island and established by French colonists as a fur trading post, was one of the earliest European settlements in the area. It has a population of 302, with a higher population during the summer tourist season. The island can be accessed by ferry from nearby Bayfield . Madeline Island has been the traditional spiritual center of

96-473: A Catholic church on the island, at the site of the La Pointe Indian Cemetery . Although the mission building is no longer extant, the old cemetery is still marked. It is the burial place of Chief Buffalo , an important Chippewa leader. Baraga's second Catholic mission on the island was built in 1838, on the site of the current St. Joseph's Catholic Church. With a congregation dating to 1838, it

144-598: A post office with ZIP code 54850. Its name in the Anishinaabe language is Mooningwanekaaning, meaning "The Home of the Golden Breasted Woodpecker ". According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 78.0 square miles (202 km ), of which, 77.6 square miles (201 km ) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km ) of it (0.50%) is water. Madeline Island

192-490: A main route in the community. There is also a public boat marina near the ferry dock. Ground transportation to the island during the winter (late December through February) is by way of an ice road , which is open when ice levels are safe enough for vehicles to pass. The Major Gilbert Field Airport ( FAA LID : 4R5 ) is a general aviation airport that features a 3,000-foot by 75-foot landing strip, as well as overnight tie-downs and an array of other services. The airport

240-471: A post on the island. Because it was an ancient Native American settlement, and had served for so long as a fur trading site, as well as being the center of early missionary efforts in the area, Madeline Island was deemed an ideal location for a museum relating to important aspects of Wisconsin's history. Inspired by the island's history, two longtime summer residents of the island, Leo and Bella Capser, began organizing in 1955 to create Madeline Island Museum. With

288-440: Is a less frequent activity because of the low water temperatures, although the beaches are a popular destination during the summer. The surface water temperature in the sheltered bay can rise to 70 °F (21 °C) while the water just off shore might remain at 50 °F (10 °C). The golf club sports a course designed by Robert Trent Jones that features double greens. The Apostle Islands Cruise Service provides tours of

336-564: Is in Wisconsin's 7th congressional district , represented by Tom Tiffany ( R ); the 25th Wisconsin State Senate district, represented by Romaine Quinn ( R ); and the 74th Wisconsin State Assembly district, represented by Chanz Green (R). Tourism makes up a large part of the local economy. La Pointe, like Bayfield (on the mainland), has become a popular tourist destination during

384-559: Is part of the Town of La Pointe. County Highway H serves as a main route. Nearby is Chequamegon Bay , an inlet of Lake Superior. According to William Whipple Warren 's History of the Ojibway People (18xx), Moningwunakuaning "is the spot on which the Ojibway tribe first grew, and like a tree it has spread its branches in every direction, in the bands that now [1885] occupy the vast extent of

432-808: Is publicly-owned by the Town of La Pointe. Madeline Island Historical Museum Madeline Island Museum is a museum owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society . Opened on June 15, 1958, the museum is in the town of La Pointe, Wisconsin on Madeline Island , one of the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior . Madeline Island Museum was developed on the former site of the American Fur Company Northern Outfit , and its main building once served as an American Fur Company warehouse. The museum can be reached by boat or by

480-471: Is restored and prolonged." The great Megis (seashell) showed itself as a glossy thing reflecting on the sea. It led them first to a place near Montreal where they stayed for some time. Next it led them to Boweting (Sault Ste. Marie); again they stayed for some time. At last it led them to Moningwunakauning (La Pointe, Madeline Island), "where it has ever since reflected back the rays of the sun, and blessed our ancestors with life, light and wisdom," says Warren. So

528-400: Is sometimes called Eagles' Nest for the bald eagles that make their nests in the tall pine trees on the cliffs. It encloses a large lagoon and a bog/dune ecosystem. Big Bay Town Park, which adjoins the state park, also offers camping and provides access to the longest beach on the island. Other accommodations on the island include a motel and rental cabins. Many legends and myths involving

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576-497: Is summer tourism. Because of the natural environment of the area and its outdoor recreational opportunities , the island is a vacation spot for people from the Midwest. Hiking, biking, fishing and sailing are common activities, with bicycles and mopeds available for rent. Also for hire are kayaks and canoes, used to explore the underwater caves and hollows of the cliff faces. The island is known for its beaches on Lake Superior . Swimming

624-520: Is the oldest continuous Catholic parish in Wisconsin. The original church building burned down in 1901 and was rebuilt in 1902. A Protestant mission, known as "The Old Mission", dates to 1832. The present La Pointe post office is located in half of the original "Old Mission" dining room. This was added to the Old Mission Inn in 1900, when it was adapted as a hotel. Today, the only Protestant church on

672-655: Is traditionally marked by Christmas trees and is officially an extension of County Highway H. If ice is too thin for automobile traffic, but too thick for ferry traffic, access to the island is by aircraft, snowmobile, and wind sled only. The wind sled often operates in early winter and spring. The island can also be accessed by private boat and private charter service. The island is serviced by Major Gilbert Field Airport (4R5) The island's school educates children through 5th grade. Middle and high school-age students attend school in Bayfield . The major industry on Madeline Island

720-659: The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore , including the historic Apostle Islands Lighthouses . The Madeline Island Marathon and Half-Marathon is held in May, and features a course that begins and ends at Joni's Beach. There are 60 campsites in Big Bay State Park , a 2,350-acre (9.5 km) park operated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on the south central shore of the island. The park

768-497: The Lake Superior Chippewa . The first European settlers were French fur traders , who in 1693 established a fort. The community of La Pointe developed around it. In the early 19th century, La Pointe became the site of an important post of John Jacob Astor 's American Fur Company , established in 1808. This location was headed by Michel Cadotte, whose wife was Ikwesewe (Madeline), daughter of an Ojibwa chief. The island

816-559: The Lake Superior Chippewa . A traditional Anishinaabeg story says that Great Spirit Gitche Manitou told the people to travel west to the place where the "food grows upon the water." They traveled until they reached the area of the wild rice that grew in the marshes in nearby Chequamegon Bay . Madeline Island is named after Madeleine Cadotte, Ikwesewe, a daughter of the Ojibwe chief White Crane and his wife. Madeleine married fur trader Michel Cadotte and they were prominent leaders on

864-605: The Madeline Island Ferry . Madeline Island is the only member of the Apostle Islands that is not included in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore , and is therefore the only island in the group open to commercial development. The historic unincorporated community of La Pointe, was established by French fur traders as a trading post in 1693. Later, in the 19th century, the American Fur Company established

912-627: The 19th century, the island was the home of Kechewaishke , or Chief Buffalo, who was instrumental in resisting the efforts of the U.S. government to remove the Chippewa from the region. He secured permanent reservations under the Treaty of La Pointe of 1854. The bulk of the Ojibwe on Madeline Island resettled to the Bad River Reservation east of Ashland. Chief Buffalo was granted a tract for his family on

960-631: The Astor company. Before 1830 Astor had established a monopoly on the fur trade in the United States. Having made millions, he left the trade before it declined and started to invest in real estate in New York and other cities. The island's fur trading history has been preserved in the Madeline Island Historical Museum . After the decline of the fur trade industry, other industries developed in

1008-674: The British victory, France ceded all its territories east of the Mississippi River. In the early 19th century, following the exclusion of Canadian traders from U.S. territories after the War of 1812 , the fur trade on the island came under the control of the American Fur Company , founded by John Jacob Astor in 1808. This trade was managed by the South West Company , the Midwestern division of

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1056-400: The Ojibway earth; and also that 'it is the root from which all the far scattered villages of the tribe have sprung.'" La Pointe was originally the site of a fortified French trading post from 1693 to 1698 and from 1718 to 1759. The current city began to develop in the late 18th century as an American Fur Company outpost under the leadership of Michel Cadotte . Warren, whose mother

1104-611: The album Cinematic is about a camping trip on Madeline Island. 46°48′59″N 90°41′21″W  /  46.81639°N 90.68917°W  / 46.81639; -90.68917 La Pointe, Wisconsin La Pointe is a town in Ashland County , Wisconsin , United States. The town includes all of the Apostle Islands except for the westernmost four, which lie in the towns of Bayfield and Russell in Bayfield County . While

1152-525: The area encompassing the Town of La Pointe is made up of the entire Apostle Islands archipelago , the residents of the community live on the western shore of Madeline Island , the largest of the Apostle Islands because it is the only Apostle Island open to commercial development. The population was 428 at the 2020 census . Downtown La Pointe is adjacent to the Madeline Island Ferry dock. Neighborhoods include Middleport and Old Fort. La Pointe has

1200-405: The average family size was 2.64. In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.1% under the age of 18, 2.8% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.3 males. The median income for a household in the town

1248-544: The cemetery, such as spirits of Ojibwe people . The island has been a setting for several novels, including Moon Over Madeline Island (2005) by Jay Gilbertson. Riding the Wind is a musical production that portrays Bayfield and Old La Pointe, as told through story and song. It has been produced at the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua , an outdoor musical venue south of Bayfield. A song by Owl City from

1296-470: The census of 2000, there were 246 people, 125 households, and 66 families residing in the town. The population density was 3.2 people per square mile (1.2 people/km ). There were 692 housing units at an average density of 8.9 per square mile (3.4/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 94.72% White , 1.63% Native American , 0.41% Pacific Islander , 0.41% from other races , and 2.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of

1344-686: The flickering shaft of light is the Megis, and La Pointe is the center of the Earth for the Ojibwa. Kechewaishke , commonly known as Chief Buffalo , was an Ojibwa leader born at La Pointe in 1759. Recognized as the principal chief of the Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwa) for nearly a half-century until his death in 1855, he led his nation into a treaty relationship with the United States Government , signing treaties in 1825, 1826, 1837, 1842, 1847, and 1854. He

1392-574: The help of many other residents of the island, they compiled a large collection of local artifacts for the museum. To house the artifacts, a wooden structure was constructed by combining pieces of several of the island's historic buildings, including a former La Pointe jail and the American Fur Company's post. The museum opened on June 15, 1958. Ten years later, it was transferred to the Wisconsin Historical Society, which has operated

1440-575: The island have added to the mystique of the place, especially in and around the Chequamegon Bay region. Fascination with the history of the island has helped fuel this phenomenon. In the book Badger Boneyards: The Eternal Rest of the Story (2010), author Dennis McCann discusses the history of the La Pointe Indian Cemetery , and how it has sparked the imagination of people over the decades. Other sources mention rumors of paranormal activity associated with

1488-555: The island in the 19th century. The island was inhabited by Native Americans, fur traders, and missionaries for over 400 years, and has flown the flags of three nations: France, Great Britain and the United States. Originally called Mooningwanekaaning ("At [the Place] Abundant with Yellow-shafted Northern flicker "), the island was inhabited for hundreds of years by the La Pointe Band of Lake Superior Chippewa , an Ojibwa band of

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1536-520: The island is St. John's United Church of Christ, built in 1925. Reflecting its French colonial past, many of the island's first church goers were Catholic. For the past five decades the Catholic church closes in winter. Most year-round residents are enrolled at St. John's UCC. The island was considered the spiritual center for many Ojibwe/Chippewa who migrated from eastern regions around the Great Lakes. In

1584-438: The island. Madeline Island and the town of La Pointe are accessible by the Madeline Island Ferry line. The steel-hulled car/passenger ferries depart from Bayfield on a set schedule. Many attractions on the island are within walking distance of the ferry dock, such as the museum and library. It may be necessary to bring a vehicle to reach attractions that are farther away, such as Big Bay State Park . County Highway H serves as

1632-438: The island. Madeline Island has a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfb ). The island can be reached by ferry and aircraft during the summer months. In the winter, the ice is usually too thick for ferry traffic. The last ferry runs of the season are typically in mid- to late January. When ice conditions allow, an ice road is opened to vehicle traffic from Bayfield across the frozen surface to Madeline Island. The ice road

1680-450: The islands and small, preserved fishing communities on a few (such as Stockton Island , Raspberry Island and Manitou Island ). The unincorporated community of La Pointe, Wisconsin , which is the main settlement in the Town of La Pointe , is located on the southwestern tip of the island, with Grant's Point being the southeasternmost point. The communities of Middleport and Old Fort are also on

1728-551: The mainland just west of Madeline Island, in what is now known as the Red Cliff Indian Reservation . On the eastern end of the island is an exclave of the Bad River Indian Reservation of approximately 195 acres (0.79 km). The island is 14 miles (21 km) long and three miles (5 km) wide. It is the only developed island of all the Apostle Islands, although there are lighthouses on many of

1776-484: The museum ever since. Today Madeline Island Museum features exhibits on several aspects of Madeline Island history. The main displays focus on the area's Native American tribes, the fur trade , early missionaries who visited Madeline Island, and the region's maritime history. These exhibits are housed in two buildings, the original museum building built in the 1950s and the Casper Center, an exhibit hall constructed in

1824-428: The population was 428. The population density was 5.5 inhabitants per square mile (2.1/km ). There were 848 housing units at an average density of 10.9 per square mile (4.2/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 88.1% White , 3.5% Black or African American , 1.4% Native American , 0.7% from other races , and 6.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.6% Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of

1872-404: The population. There were 125 households, out of which 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.4% were non-families. 40.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.96 and

1920-424: The region, including logging , commercial fishing , and brownstone quarrying. Apostle Island Brownstone was used to construct the first Milwaukee County Courthouse . Since the mid-20th century, the primary industry has been tourism. Around 1665, Jesuit Father Claude Allouez and Father Jacques Marquette arrived and soon established a mission to the Ojibwe. Later, in 1835, Father Frederic Baraga established

1968-467: The summer, when many local events are scheduled. Downtown La Pointe offers many bars , restaurants , and other amenities. These include indigenous restaurant Miijim, whose owner and chef, Bryce Stevenson, was a 2024 semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's national award for emerging chef. Camping, swimming, hiking, and other outdoor recreational activities are abundant and popular on

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2016-556: The voters directly through town meetings . As of June 2021, the town administrator is Lisa Potswald, the chair of the board of supervisors is Glenn Carlson (term on board ends 2023), and the board's other members are Aimee Baxter (term on board ends 2023), John Carlson (2023) , Mike Anderson (2022), and Sue Brenna (2022) . The town employs a police and fire department and has a public library and elementary school; from sixth grade on, students attend school in Bayfield. La Pointe

2064-505: Was $ 33,500, and the median income for a family was $ 42,708. Males had a median income of $ 29,583 versus $ 31,042 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 23,352. None of the families and 4.6% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 2.1% of those over 64. La Pointe is governed by an elected five-person board of supervisors and an appointed town administrator, along with several boards of volunteers; in addition, some decisions are made by

2112-552: Was French-Ojibwa, learned from maternal tribal elders that the Ojibwa originally lived near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River . At the time of great sickness and death, the Great Spirit interceded through Manabosho, a common uncle of the Anishinubag (spontaneous people). Through the discovery of the snakeroot they were granted the rite, enabled through their Medawe (religion), "wherewith life

2160-415: Was also instrumental in resisting the efforts of the United States to remove the Ojibwa and in securing permanent reservations for his people near Lake Superior. Licensed Indian traders operated at this location and nearby stores at Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation and other convenient places. Today, the town's history is preserved at Madeline Island Historical Museum . As of the census of 2020 ,

2208-483: Was an important outpost for French, British and American fur traders. They brought European and American goods to trade with Native Americans for furs that were highly desired in the European markets. In about 1660, Radisson and Groseilliers , two explorers and fur traders, made their way to Chequamegon Bay . They started a French fur trading post on the island, which they then considered part of New France , although it

2256-503: Was named for her. They were a prominent couple on the island, and an example of many marriages between traders and high-ranking Ojibwe women. Such women were integral to the trading success of their husbands, as they helped create goodwill and provided access to the Native American communities. Native women were also prominent in the trading community on Mackinac Island and at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan . For 150 years, Madeline Island

2304-618: Was traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg and previous indigenous cultures. From about 1660 through 1763, a fierce rivalry grew between France and Great Britain in North America, as each European power struggled to expand its fur-trading territories and control the lucrative fur trade . As part of the Seven Years' War , British and French regular and mostly colonial forces, together with assorted Indian allies, fought in North America. With

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