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More Madeline Island Photos & Information on things to see and do while visiting Madeline Island of the Apostle Islands

Memorial Day weekend, we boarded, as passengers without a vehicle, the Madeline Island Ferry to the village of LaPointe, WI on Madeline Island. Previously, in 2005, we took our motor home to the island so we had our own wheels to tour the island. On this earlier trip, in Mid-May, the Historical Museum had yet to open for the season and a few other establishments were still in their pre-season mode. By Memorial Day weekend most places are open.

photo of madeline island of the apostle islands
View of Madeline Island from the Madeline Island Ferry, La Pointe, Wisconsin


Madeline Island, the most southern island of the Apostles, is steeped in history - both for the Ojibway-Anishinabe peoples and Europeans who later founded trading posts, missionary outposts, and eventually the town of La Pointe. The Objibway occupied the area for several hundred years prior to encounting French exployers in the 1600s. The first European trading post was founded in 1693 by Pierre Le Sueur on the south end of the island which he operated until 1698. More than a century later the American Fur Company built their post at essentially the same spot. The Madeline Island Historical Museum now occupies this same historic ground.

Madeline Island Historical Museum

June 2, 2013 - Visitor Appreciation Day - $2 Donation
Museum Events Calendar

Historical Museum Madeline Island


The sign outside of the museum stockade explains this historical site. The stockade represents the kind of enclosure commonly used around French forts and trading posts > > >

historical museum madeline island
< < < An array of 19th century logging tools are displayed on the side of the original log museum. This structure is part of the last remaining building from the 1835 American Fur Company outpost.

Historical Museum Madeline Island


More Logging Camp tools and artifacts are displayed inside along with trades tools involved with boat building, fishing, carpentry and coopering. > > >

historical museum madeline island


< < < Memorabilia from Michael Cadotte and Father Baraga.

Historical Museum Madeline Island

This room is furnished with artifacts from an
early 20th century settlers cabin. > > >

 

Other museum artifacts include items from early Ojibwa life, including a dugout canoe that was carbon dated to between 350 and 500 years old.


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The Bell Street Tavern

Bell Street Tavern Madeline Island


Bell Street Tavern Madeline Island
Bell Street Tavern Madeline Island

The Bell Street Tavern offers 3 kinds of dining ambience from sports bar to a formal dining atmosphere. Lots of fine woodwork and classic style. We choose the mid-level dining area off the main bar for a late lunch. In our opinion Bell Street Tavern is the premier dining-entertainment spot on the island.The service was outstanding and the food attractively presented and tasty. 5 stars.

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Tom's Burned Down Cafe

Tom's Burned Down Cafe

< < < The "classy" entrance to Tom's Burned Down Cafe. The sign advertises "Good Fast Cheap Food." Well I think I can agree about the "cheap" but don't think I'd risk finding out about the rest! If Bell Street Tavern is for the discriminating diner, Tom's is the anti-Bell - Good fun and merriment for the indiscriminant patron!Tom's Burned Down Cafe

 

If you drop something on the floor, someone's pooch will take care of it for you. > > >

Tom's Burned Down Cafe< < < Tom's wit and wisdom are plastered all over.

An interesting factoid. On an island in the northern most region of Wisconsin, you can buy a bottle of Huber Beer which is brewed in far southern Wisconsin (Monroe, WI) only a few miles from the Illinois border. And despite what would seem like extra shipping costs, at Tom's a Huber goes across the bar at less than two bucks!

See Tom's Burned Down Cafe & the Bell Tavern in the Winter

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More Madeline Island Attractions

Grampa Tonys Madeline Island

< < < During our visit in August of 2009, we stopped at Grampa Tony's for big scoops of ice cream. You can also get sandwiches, pizza, expresso coffee, muffins, bagels and breakfast . . . and even beer on tap . . . something for everybody and every taste!

Island Cafe

The Island Cafe has a great view from its front porch but it was closed during our recent visit.

Motion to Go Madeline Island

< < < During the summer "Motion to Go" is one of the busiest enterprises in town offering scooters, bikes (including tandems), and buggies for rent. A great way to tour the Island.

Island Cafe


Madeline Island Golf Course. Golfers will enjoy a round at Madeline Island Golf Club, a Robert Trent Jones design with many unique features.

 

More things to see and do on Madeline Island Attractions

Info on Big Bay State Park & Campground

Madeline Island Links
Madeline Island Fall Festival - Oct 20, 2012

Some helpful links for visiting and touring Madeline Island:

Madeline Islands Fall Festival - October 20, 2012
Apostle Islands Lighthouse Festival - September 4 - 22, 2012

More things to see and do on Madeline Island

Things to see and do in Bayfield, WI

Bayfield Apple Festival

 





camping on Lake Superior
Campground Directory
Lake Superior Circle Tour

Golf Courses Around Lake Superior

Travel Planner Lake Superior Circle Tour



town square - Madeline Island
Visiting Madeline Island in Winter

Swimming  Beach at Big Bay State Park Big Bay State Park
Madeline Island



Madeline Island Golf Course  Bayfield, WI Madeline Island Golf Course


Little Manitou Falls
Wisconsin Waterfalls

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Hotel, Motel Lodging
Ashland, Superior, Ironwood, Wisconsin South Shore

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Canoe Trails:
Wabakimi Canoe Trips
Canoe Trip Stories

Resource Links:
Bayfield Chamber of
  Commerce

Ashland Daily Press
Washburn Chamber of
 Commerce

Madeline Island
Apostle Islands

wi mi color tour map
Fall Color Tour Map

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Hotel, Motel Lodging
Ashland, Superior, Ironwood, Wisconsin South Shore

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scenic fall color drive report

See our recommended
Scenic Fall Color Drives

Golf Courses Around Lake Superior

Ratings of Wisconsin Golf Courses
Along Lake Superior

Bayfield Apple Festival
Bayfield Apple Festival