ISLE ROYALE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION

Our Mission is: "To continue the over 100-year presence of family heritage, culture and rich human tradition on Isle Royale; to assure the preservation of historic family dwellings; to enhance the experience of NPS staff and Park visitors by serving as authentic links to Isle Royale's rich human history."

  
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News
May 2011

NPS ISSUES VOLUNTEER PERMITS TO SOME FAMILY MEMBERS

CAPE CODE NATIONAL SEASHORE DUNE SHACK PLAN AND ASSESSMENT

In Memoriam - Clara E. Sivertson

RESTORATION OF THE “BIG” BOAT HOUSE 2009

LAKE SUPERIOR MAGAZINE PRINTS A LETTER TITLED “ISLAND FOLKS STILL  PART OF ISLE ROYALE”

  Calendar

IRFFA SUMMER MEETING 2011


Events Of Other Lake Superior Groups

ISLE ROYALE BOATERS ASSOCATION EVENTS

ISLE ROYALE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION

GREAT LAKES CRUISING CLUB

 

  

What if you could go back to time and observe people living sensibly with  nature without  electricity, running water,  and telephones? What if you could authentically experience and inter-act with and  island folk  that have experienced "boat day" for over 6 generations? What if you could understand the lifestyle, culture and feeling of a place going back to a bygone era, learning about the traditions, heritage and culture passed on over the generations? Would you consider this a cultural landscape worth preserving?

Isle Royale is such a place you can experience and question this culture and history, along with the well known wilderness. Just a few of the families that once inhabited Isle Royale still call the island home. We have founded the Isle Royale Families and Friends Association, a 501(c)(3) organization. We are open to membership to all those committed to maintaining our  feeling of place that existed in the early 20th century, which was the height of the Fishing/Resort era of Isle Royale.  Working in partnership with the National Park Service, our members provide Interpretive Programs, Tours of historic cultural sites, and the maintenance of Island buildings that qualify for the National Historic Register. Our efforts are designed promote and maintain the natural wonders of the  Isle Royale wilderness, and at the same time  to tell the authentic story of those who came to Isle Royale over 100 years ago. In the space of Isle Royale's history, our time on the island has been short, nonetheless, families representing the commercial fisherman, miners, hotel owners and cottage folks, provide an authentic link to the rich era on Isle Royale.

  

Family Archives


Picture from the Northeast Minnesota Historical Center 

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Patricia Maus the Curator of the Northeast Minnesota Historical Center to look over the  archive on Isle Royale and to contribute some documents on my great-grandfather. Patricia has been the curator for over 30 years as I understand it. I found her  to incredibly knowledgeable and informative about the history of this region. I believe our  organization has an opportunity to  work with the NMHC in order to provide relevant enhancements to their Isle Royale achieve. Please consider looking at your pictures, diaries and letters for things of historical and cultural value and consider donating them to NMHC. If you have any questions or want ideas about what you have, I know Patricia would be happy to provide guidance.

http://www.d.umn.edu/lib/nemhc/


My Early Life on Isle Royale, by Laurie Snell PDF format*

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WESTON FARMER

Recollections of Isle Royale and the steam yacht Picket PDF format*

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A Trip Around Isle Royale on the Halcyon I

SNELL FAMILY: JOHN SNELL'S WINTER ON ISLE ROYALE

The Old Halcyon II goes up in flames
  

Media Section


Watch the news story played on KDLH - Ch. 3 about Isle Royale
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Last modified: June 28, 2007