Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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The Ridges Sanctuary and Cana Island Lighthouse:
This beloved sanctuary,
recognized by the U.S. government as one of the most ecologically precious in the
country, also contains the grand Cana Island Lighthouse (
click here
)
.
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Newport State Park:
Escape the madding crowds at this preserved wilderness
with some of the state's best hike-in-only camping (
click here
).
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Peninsula State Park:
Somnolent and picturesque, this park has the best sunset
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Washington Island:
Step onto a time-locked island of hearty and cheery souls.
Try the local drink, bitters, and perhaps eat a lawyer, which is not what it sounds like
(
click here
)
.
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Rock Island State Park:
Thisunparalleledgetawayisasfarasyougetfromany-
where in the county physically, and perhaps mentally (
click here
)
.
Porte des Mortes
At the tip of the peninsula is the only major gap in the escarpment, Porte des Mortes, the
fabled “DoorofDeath”—so named bypetrified early Frenchexplorers. Theferocious local
climate has devoured hundreds of ships here. Accounts vary wildly (travelers will believe
anything—and pass it along at the next inn) regarding which tragedy gave rise to the name
DoorofDeath,butallareremarkably harrowing.Mostaccountspointtoabandof300-500
Potawatomi—some say Winnebago—who were dashed against rocks. Before the advent
of modern navigation and large, diesel-driven screws, most ships could not overcome the
shifting currents or conflicting wind shears (and shoals).
Human History
Human habitation at what today is Whitefish Dunes State Park dates back to 100 BC, to
judge by traces of the North Bay People, who spread from the mouth of the bay all the
way to Rock Island. Woodland Indians arrived in the mid-1600s, when hostile, large-scale
IroquoisexpansioninAcadiaforcedtheHuronstoflee.TheylikelyarrivedonRockIsland,
which had been populated by Potawatomi, who would later return to open the doors to the
Europeans. With the aid of Winnebago and Ottawa Indians, one of the largest ramparts in
the New World was constructed on Rock Island to repel Iroquois invaders. (The U.S. gov-
ernment would later forcibly evict the Potawatomi from Rock Island so lumbermen could
enter.)
