Madeline Island

Madeline Island is the largest of the Apostle Islands and the only one not included in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. It’s 2.5 miles across the channel from Bayfield. The Anishinaabe name for Madeline Island is Mooniinwanekaaning-minis, which translates to Home of the Yellow Breasted Woodpecker. Public signage on Madeline Island is bilingual, with place names written in both English and Anishinaabe.

Attractions

There’s so much to do every time of year, you simply won’t be able to experience everything in a weekend trip! Here are some of the main attractions in the area.

Getting there:

In Spring, Summer and Fall, walk, drive or bike on the Madeline Island Ferry Line -
In the winter months when conditions permit, visitors can drive across the ice road, or take the windsled.
Private watercraft

When you get there:

Art Galleries
Bike Rental
Big Bay State Park
Big Bay Town Park
Camping
Madeline Island Museum

History:

Madeline Island is the spiritual center of the Lake Superior Chippewa, the Anishinaabe people.

The Anishinaabeg were led there on a journey by Gichi-Manidoo, the Great Spirit. This journey brought them to the place where food grows on water. The destination, Chequamegon Bay, was plentiful with manoomin, the good berry, or wild rice. Madeline Island then became a trade center for many surrounding communities and fur traders. It's named for Madeleine Cadotte, also known as Ikwesewe, the daughter of the Ojibwe Chief White Crane. Ikwesewe was married to Michael Cadotte, a prominent fur trader and head of the trading post in the early 1800’s, which was managed by John Jacob Astor’s American Fur Company. The traditional name for Madeline Island is Mooniinwanekaaning-minis, which translates to Home of the Yellow Breasted Woodpecker.

*Information provided in partnership with the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore