Pattison State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pattison State Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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Big Manitou Falls
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 Pattison State Park
Location in Wisconsin
Pattison State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Douglas, Wisconsin, United States |
| Area | 1,436 acres (5.81 km2) |
| Established | 1920 |
| Governing body | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Pattison State Park |
Pattison State Park is a cool place to visit in Wisconsin. It covers about 1,436 acres and is located south of Superior, Wisconsin. This park is special because it has two amazing waterfalls on the Black River. You can see Big Manitou Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in Wisconsin at 165 feet (50 meters) high! There's also Little Manitou Falls, which is 30 feet (9 meters) tall. Pattison State Park first opened in 1920.
Contents
Park History
Who Was Martin Pattison?
Pattison State Park is named after a man named Martin Pattison. He was a lumberman and miner who moved to Superior in 1879. Martin Pattison became very rich from mining iron. He even bought a whole city block by the harbor and built a huge 42-room house. This house is now the Fairlawn Mansion and Museum.
Saving the Falls
In 1917, there was a plan to build a big dam on the Black River. This dam would have destroyed the beautiful Big Manitou Falls. Martin Pattison wanted to save the falls. He secretly bought 660 acres of land from different owners along the river. In 1918, he gave all this land to the state of Wisconsin. Because of his generous gift, Wisconsin opened its sixth state park on January 20, 1920, and named it after him.
Building the Park: The CCC's Work
For a while, Pattison State Park was quite simple. It had a small picnic area, some wooden viewpoints, and a ranger cabin. But on July 25, 1935, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) started to improve the park. The CCC was a program that helped people find work during tough times.
The CCC workers did a lot for the park:
- They used rocks from a quarry to build the park's shelter, nature center, and bathhouse.
- They drained Interfalls Lake and moved the river channel.
- They brought sand from Lake Superior to create the park's beach.
- They put in water and sewer systems.
- They removed old roads, planted trees, and made the park look nicer.
- They also built three miles of new walking trails.
Fun Things to Do
Pattison State Park offers many exciting activities for visitors.
Nature Center Adventures
The Gitche Gumee Nature Center is a great place to learn about the park. It has exhibits about the park's history, its animals, and its geology (how the earth is made). You can join guided nature walks to explore with an expert. Kids can even borrow special backpacks to help them explore nature on their own!
Swimming Fun
The park has a 300-foot long sandy beach on Interfalls Lake. It's a perfect spot to cool off and swim on a warm day.
Hiking Trails
Pattison State Park has about 9 miles of hiking trails. Some of these trails are also used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
- The Beaver Slide Nature Trail is 2 miles long and goes around Interfalls Lake.
- The Logging Camp Trail is 4.7 miles long. On this trail, you can still see some parts of Martin Pattison's old logging camp by the Black River.
Camping Under the Stars
If you love camping, Pattison State Park has 59 family campsites. Eighteen of these sites have electric hookups for your convenience. There are also 3 backpack sites for those who want a more rugged camping experience.
