Outer Island (Wisconsin) facts for kids
Outer Island is a special place located in Lake Superior, a huge freshwater lake in northern Wisconsin. It's one of the many beautiful Apostle Islands and is part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Imagine a group of islands, and Outer Island is the one furthest to the east! It's also the third largest island in the group.
On the northern tip of the island, you'll find the historic Outer Island Light, a lighthouse that has guided ships for many years. Even though it's an island, Outer Island is also part of a small town called La Pointe, Wisconsin.
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Exploring Outer Island's Past
Outer Island has a fascinating history, especially from the late 1800s when people came here to cut down trees for wood. This was a big industry back then.
The Lullabye Furniture Camp
On the northeast side of the island, you can still see what's left of the Lullabye Furniture camp. This was a busy place where workers lived and processed wood. Today, you can find old trucks left behind and some buildings that are now unsafe. It's like a glimpse into the past!
The Old Railroad Tram
Long ago, there was a special railroad system called a "tram" that stretched for about 7 miles across the island. This tram helped move logs from a sandy area on the southern end all the way up to the logging camp. It was a clever way to transport heavy wood before modern roads existed.
Visiting Outer Island Today
Today, Outer Island is a place for nature and history lovers. It's managed by the National Park Service, which helps protect its natural beauty and historical sites.
The Island Dock
On the north side of the island, there's a concrete dock shaped like an "L." This dock is used by boats from the National Park Service and by people visiting the island for fun. This dock was originally built by the Coast Guard's Lighthouse Service, which used to take care of lighthouses.
Hiking Trails and Adventures
From the dock, two main trails invite visitors to explore the island:
- One trail leads to the old Lullabye Furniture camp, where you can imagine what life was like for the loggers.
- The other trail is a longer, 7-mile hike that goes all the way to the sandy tip on the southern end of the island. This trail actually follows the path of the old railroad bed that was used over 100 years ago! It's a great way to walk through history.
