Stephenson Island (Wisconsin)

Stephenson Island (formerly "Stephenson Isle"[1]) is located in the Menominee River within the boundary of Marinette, Wisconsin at a latitude of 45.1019294 north and longitude 87.6292735 west,[2] at an elevation of 587 feet.[3] It is named after Isaac Stephenson,[3][4] a prominent politician and lumberman in Marinette at the turn of the 20th century. The island is operated as a city park and is uninhabited.[5] US Highway 41 runs across it, which provides access to the park's pavilion, gazebo, playground, and picnic areas.[5]

Stephenson Island
Stephenson Island
Geography
LocationMenominee River, Marinette, Wisconsin
Coordinates45°06′07″N 87°37′45″W
Administration

A footbridge to the island connects from the Marinette side of the river, adjacent to the Wisconsin Tourist Information building and the Stephenson Public Library.[5] In homage to the city's logging past, there is a logging museum on the island.[5][6] The island is a popular place for access to the Menominee River for sport fishing and launching recreational boats.[7]

The island is the location for Marinette's Civil War memorial, The Soldiers Memorial. It is a figure of a soldier at parade rest, hewn from pink Westerly granite. The memorial is a total of 25 feet high and was given by Isaac Stephenson. It was dedicated in 1917.[1] The memorial was designed by architect Wallace W. DeLong of Appleton Wisconsin.[8]

Events

The island's facilities host Marinette's "Sunset Concert Series" for Marinette's concerts. (Other concerts in the series are hosted by Marinette's twin city, Menominee, Michigan.)[4]

When Marinette had a Fourth of July celebration, fireworks would be launched from Stephenson Island.[9] This ended in 2012 and has been replaced with a "Marinette Logging and Heritage Fest" in mid-July.[10]

References
  1. Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Department of Wisconsin. "Wisconsin's Civil War Memorials - Marinette Civil War Memorial" Accessed 27-Nov-2012
  2. WI HomeTownLocator. "Stephenson Island - Maps, Driving Directions & Local Area Information" Accessed 13-Nov-2012
  3. U.S. Geological Survey. "Feature Detail Report for: Stephenson Island" Accessed 13-Nov-2012
  4. City of Marinette. "Sunset Concert Series" Accessed 13-Nov-2012
  5. City of Marinette. "Stephenson Island" Accessed 13-Nov-2012
  6. Letters for George. "Isaac Stephenson, Marinette Lumberman" Accessed 13-Nov-2012
  7. City of Marinette. "Police Department - Community" Accessed 13-Nov-2012
  8. "Present Monument to City of Marinette". The American Stone Trade. 16 (7): 20. February 1, 1917 – via Hathi Trust.
  9. City of Marinette. "July 4th Celebration" Accessed 13-Nov-2012
  10. Marinette Logging and Heritage Fest. Accessed 13-Nov-2012
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