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go to: official county website
go to: Ashland County tourism website

 

The Apostle Islands are part of Ashland County, but have been included on the Bayfield County page instead.

go to Bayfield County

go to Iron County
go to Sawyer County

go to Price County

       map provided by Delorme mapping software

 


 

attractions & oddities

resources

 

1

World Record Black Bear
in Glidden, the Black Bear Capital of the World

 

location:  Glidden
record holder / roadside oddity / self-designation

Otto Hedbany of Milwaukee shot this world-record beast outside of Glidden in 1963.  After being dressed out, the 12-year-old bear still weighed 665 pounds and was measured at 10 feet, 7 inches in height.  No surprise that Glidden calls itself the "Black Bear Capital of the World".

     

  displayed behind Bruin Rest restaurant at Highway 13 (Broadway) & Grant Street

            

Glidden Area Chamber of Commerce
(715) 264-4304

Journal Sentinel Online
1. article Poor old Mr. Bear needs a makeover" or (here)
2. article "It's never too late to see Mr. Bear" or (here)

Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com

Kehring Photo Gallery
(scroll down to the "From Around Glidden, Wisconsin" section)
freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com

book:
"Wisconsin Curiosities"
by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004)  pages
25 - 26
(3rd ed., 2009)
  pages 22 - 23
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com


very-loosely-related:
Dwight Schrute Bear Attack PSA

double-click to enlarge video

 

2

World's Largest White Pine Log

 

location:  Glidden
record holder / roadside oddity

This white pine log is displayed upon the very sleigh on which it was hauled to Glidden.  20 feet long, 7000 lbs.  Estimated age: 500 to 600 years old.

Hauled to Glidden, now it's sittin'.



  displayed outside 2 blocks east of Highway 13 (Broadway)
on Grant Street

         

Glidden Area Chamber of Commerce
(715) 264-4304

     
book:
"Wisconsin Curiosities"
by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004)  pages
25 - 26
(3rd ed., 2009)
  pages 22 - 23
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

very-loosely-related:
How NOT to cut a tree

double-click to enlarge video

 

3

Giant Fish Statue
at Bodin's On the Lake

 

location:  Ashland
roadside oddity

  2521 Lakeshore Drive W.
Ashland, WI  54806
(715) 682-6441

Official Site
www.bodins.com

Flickr
1. by Ruggedchick flickr.com
2. by Benschomatic flickr.com

 

4

John Ree's Pebble Village

 

location:  Mellen
yard art

photo courtesy of the book "Miracles of The Spirit"

John Ree began building his tiny cement buildings in 1992, using stones he had collected from Lake Superior.  It was a hobby he enjoyed until his death in 1999.  The status of the pebble houses is unknown.

  was at: 74111 State Highway 77
Mellen, WI  54546

book:
"Miracles of The Spirit: Folk, Art, and Stories from Wisconsin"
by Don Krug & Ann Parker
University Press of Mississippi (2005)
pages 151 , 241 - 245
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

5

Ashland Ore Dock

 

location:  Ashland
historic structure / local landmark / record holder

photo courtesy of iholmes.com 

"Construction of the Ore Dock began in 1916. Originally it was 900 feet long. In 1925 an addition was completed bringing the dock to its present length of 1800 feet. It is 80 feet high, 59 feet wide and the largest concrete structure of its kind. Iron-ore mined in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan was shipped from this dock. The shipping ended in the mid 1960s. At one time there were five such docks in Ashland."
- section from www.visitashland.com

 the dock can be seen from many vantage points along Ashland harbor

Ashland History
www.ashlandhistory.com

City of Ashland
www.ci.ashland.wi.us

Flickr photos
www.flickr.com

iholmes.com
www.iholmes.com

 

6

Ashland Mural Walk

 

location:  Ashland
big art

      

photos & locations courtesy of Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce 

"The 8 block main street business district, listed on the National Register for Historic places, is the background for a fascinating walk through Ashland's history as seen through the eyes of Ashland's mural artists Kelly Meredith and Susan Prentice Martinsen."
- section from the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce website

  Corner of Highway 2 & 13    124 West Main Street    Lake Side of the 300 block, West of Main    4th Avenue West & Main Street    4th Avenue West & Main Street    Vaughn Avenue & Main Street    Parking Lot, 612 West Main St    Corner of Chapple Avenue & Main Street    Food Co-op, 211 Chapple Avenue    Best Western/Lake Superior Lodge, Hwy 2 West    Inside the BIA building 801 Lake Shore Drive    Located inside McDonald's, 720 West Lake Shore Drive

Visit Ashland
www.visitashland.com

Ashland History
www.ashlandhistory.com

Superior Trails
www.superiortrails.com

Road Trip America
www.roadtripamerica.com

Wisconsin Central
www.wisconsincentral.net

 

 

 

natural feature  /  altered landscape

resources

 


 

1

Morgan Falls  (70 feet high)
on Morgan Creek in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

 

location:  Sanborn / Mellen
waterfall

"At the south fork of Morgan Creek, a small stream cascades 70 feet down the face of a rock cliff, forming a spectacular waterfall to a small shaded pool."
- section from Explore Wisconsin website

  13 miles west of Mellen / 6 miles south of Sanborn

Mellen Official Site
www.mellenwi.org

Superior Trails
www.superiortrails.com

US Forest Service
www.fs.fed.us

Michele's World
michelesworld.net

Go Waterfalling
gowaterfalling.com

book:
"Wisconsin Waterfalls"
by Patrick Lisi
Prairie Oak Press (2000)
pages 14 - 15

buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

2

St. Peter's Dome

 

location:  Sanborn / Mellen
high spot

"The 1600-ft. red granite dome is the highest point in the Chequamegon National Forest. On a clear day, you can see Lake Superior 20 miles to the north."
- section from Explore Wisconsin website

  Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
13 miles west of Mellen / 6 miles south of Sanborn

Mellen Official Site
www.mellenwi.org

US Forest Service
www.fs.fed.us

 

3

Copper Falls  (29 feet high)
on the Bad River in Copper Falls State Park

 

location:  Mellen
waterfall

"Copper Falls, located just northeast of the City of Mellen, is a 29-foot falls which marks the first drop of the Bad River as it flows through steep-walled gorges of rugged and awesome splendor."
- section from Explore Wisconsin website

  From State Highway 13 in Mellen, turn northeast onto State Highway 169. Go about 2 miles. The park entrance will be on your left.

     
Wisconsin DNR
www.dnr.state.wi.us

Mellen Official Site
www.mellenwi.org

Go Waterfalling
gowaterfalling.com

Turtle Track
Myths and Legends of Wisconsin's Waterfalls
www.turtletrack.org

book:
"Wisconsin Waterfalls"
by Patrick Lisi
Prairie Oak Press (2000)
pages 16 - 19

buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

4

Brownstone Falls  (30 feet high)
on the Tyler Forks River in Copper Falls State Park

 

location:  Mellen
waterfall

"Downstream, Tylers Forks of the Bad River joins the main branch of the river by plunging into the canyon over Brownstone Falls. On either side of the swift-flowing water, the walls of the gorge rise 60 to 100 feet."
- section from Explore Wisconsin website

  From State Highway 13 in Mellen, turn northeast onto State Highway 169. Go about 2 miles. The park entrance will be on your left.

     
Wisconsin DNR
www.dnr.state.wi.us

Mellen Official Site
www.mellenwi.org

Go Waterfalling
gowaterfalling.com

book:
"Wisconsin Waterfalls"
by Patrick Lisi
Prairie Oak Press (2000)
pages 16 - 18

buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

5

Penokee Mountain Overlook

 

location:  Mellen
scenic view

"This area offers a breathtaking view of the Penokee Mountain Range and the Chequamegon National Forest...this overlook has a platform area for viewing with benches and interpretive signage. Stairs lead from the parking lot to the overlook, less than one-fourth mile away."
- section from Explore Wisconsin website

  4 miles west of Mellen on County Road GG
(715) 373-2667

Mellen Official Site
www.mellenwi.org

Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com

 

6

Northern Continental Divide

 

location:  Glidden
geographical marker

"The Northern Continental Divide separates the southern third from the northern portion of Ashland County. Rivers originating north of the Divide flow north to Lake Superior, and to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean; rivers originating south of the Divide flow south, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico."
- section from Explore Wisconsin website

  on Highway 13 (77) a few miles north of Glidden
(715) 264-4304

     
Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com

 

 

 

sighting  /  phenomenon  /  morbid curiosity

resources

 

1

Ashland UFO Sightings

 
ufo
location:  Ashland

"It came from the west and was hovering way above my home. It was black triangular shape with 3 white lights, one in each corner."
- section from UFO Wisconsin 10-14-03 report
UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com

 

 

2

"Girl Sees Three UFOS at Sunset Beach"  (1999)

 
ufo
location:  Ashland

"...Jessica, was walking along Sunset Beach on the shore of Chequamegon Bay on Lake Superior, when she noticed something odd in the sky."
- section from UFO Wisconsin report
UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com

 

3

Mellen UFO Sightings

 
ufo
location:  Mellen

" 'I had one hand on the doorknob and I said, 'Come on,' recalled Mrs. Windt.  'Let's get in the house, so they don't grab us.' But he just laughed and said, 'Mom, if they're going to get us, they'll get us in the house as well as here.' "
- section from UFO Wisconsin 02-14-81 report
UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com

book:
"The W-Files"
by Jay Rath
Trails Books (1997)

pages 102 - 105
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

 

4

"Wisconsin Officers Report Multiple Sightings of UFOs"  (1975)

 
ufo
location:  Mellen

"At the time of the sightings, officials said, police radios were garbled or went out of service and witnesses said they saw the objects moving, changing colors, and heading toward a common position in the sky."
- section from UFO Wisconsin report
UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com

Mellen UFO
tlb.0catch.com

 

5

Fish Falling From Sky in 1972

 
unexplained phenomena
location:  Ashland

As told in the book "Weird Wisconsin", fish were found laying on the ground outside of a barn after a storm, similar perhaps to the simulated image at the right.

book:
"Weird Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey & Richard D. Hendricks
Barnes & Noble Books (2005)
page 93
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

6

"Peeksville's Naked Ghosts"

 
ghosts
location:  Peeksville, southeast of Glidden

"In the old days the ladies didn't like to talk about it because, you see, the ghosts were naked. Yah, naked as newborn babes. People started seeing those naked ghosts right around World War One."
- section from The W-Files report
The W-Files
www.w-files.com/files

book:
"Northern Frights"
by Dennis Boyer
Badger Books (2nd ed., 2005)
pages 68 - 72
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

7

"Ghosts of the Three Fires"

 
ghosts
location:  Odanah

In the elder days, a footrace involving three Indians between Bad River and Superior Falls (Iron County) ends in the participants' deaths.  Their spirits have now learned to cooperate so that they may continue their eternal chase.

book:
"Northern Frights"
by Dennis Boyer
Badger Books (2nd ed., 2005)
pages 41 - 46
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

8

• Devil's Cauldron  (a bay in Ashland)

• Devils Creek  (east of Mellen)

• Devil's Gate  (in Copper Falls State Park)

 
hellish moniker
location:  Ashland  &  Mellen

The Weird Wisconsin website ponders the multitude of Devil-related place names in Wisconsin

Devil's Gate on the Bad River.
Weird Wisconsin
www.weird-wi.com or archived (here)

 

 

Big Harry of Chequamegon

 
bigfoot
location:  all over Ashland County

In the book "Giants in the Land", author Dennis Boyer tells of a 7-foot-tall, hairy man-like creature that was a menace to lumbermen, rail men, settlers, tanners and the like. 

book:
"Giants in the Land"
by Dennis Boyer
Prairie Oak Press (1997)
pages 105 - 108
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

 

"Deadly Hunter"

 
paranormal creature
location:  all over Ashland County

In the book "Spooky Wisconsin", tragedy strikes a hunting party in the form of a Wendigo (a dark spirit of the Northwoods).

book:
"Spooky Wisconsin"
by S. E. Schlosser
Globe Pequot Press (2008)
pages 173 - 188
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

 

"Ghosts of America" Haunted Location Reports
(take with a grain of salt)

 
ghosts
location:  statewide

The reports on this site are presumably fiction, using random Wisconsin place names in the stories listed there.  Even so, you might get a kick out of reading them.

"The ghost of an elderly woman hauling a revolver is now and then observed floating down Bear Creek before dawn."
- section from Ghosts of America website

Ghosts of America
www.ghostsofamerica.com

 

12

"A Spirit Scorned"

 
ghost
location:  Ashland

In the book "Ghostly Tales of Wisconsin", author Ryan Jacobson shares the tale of a college student's frightening paranormal experiences in her dorm room.

  Memorial Hall at Northland College

book:
"Ghostly Tales of Wisconsin"
by Ryan Jacobson
Adventure Publications, Inc. (2009)
pages 33 - 35
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

 

 

taste of local history

resources

 

1

Ashland Historical Museum

 

location:  Ashland
museum

"Located in the heart of the Ashland's Historic Shopping district, this museum features displays of industrial, retail, medical and life styles reflecting Ashland's history from beginning to the present."
- section from Explore Wisconsin website

  509 West Main Street
Ashland, WI  54806
(715) 682-4911

Official Site
www.ashlandhistory.com

Portal Wisconsin
www.portalwisconsin.org

Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com

 

 

2

Radisson Groseilliers 1659 Fort
(reproduction)

 

location:  Ashland
historical structure

Early white explorers Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Medard Chouart des Goseillers built a crude log structure near this area in the 15th century.  A full-size reproduction of the fort stands in the park, but the interior is currently off-limits to visitors.

  in Bayview Park on Highway 2 in Ashland

     
Superior Trails
www.superiortrails.com

Roots Web
www.rootsweb.com

 

3

Mellen Area Historical Museum

 

location:  Mellen
museum

"The Mellen Area Historical Museum is located on the second floor of the 1896 City Hall in a space that was originally built as a community recreation center. The restored stage hosts theatrical productions that continue the facility's century-old community gathering tradition. Exhibits include logging and farm equipment, weaving looms, vintage clothing, period home and business items, military artifacts, historical maps and more."
- section from Explore Wisconsin website


  City Hall at Main and Bennett Streets
Mellen, WI  54546
(715) 274-2136

         

hours:
June thru Sept 1 during library hours  (CLOSED HOLIDAYS)
(Mon - Tues)  9am 12:30pm
(Wed & Fri)  1pm 4pm  (Sat)  9am Noon

Mellen Official Site
www.mellenwi.org

Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com

Portal Wisconsin
www.portalwisconsin.org

 

4

Glidden Area Historical Museum

 

location:  Glidden
museum

"View artifacts and memorabilia of Glidden's logging, lumbering and dairy farming heritage dating back to the early 1800's. Call for hours."
- section from Explore Wisconsin website

  Marion Park in Glidden
(715) 264-6004

Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com

 

5

Marion Park Pavilion

 

location:  Glidden
historical structure

"Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the architecturally unique Marion Park Pavilion was built during the depression by the WPA. This octagon-shaped structure, 45 feet high and 90 feet wide, was constructed of virgin hemlock and pine, with a hardwood floor and hundreds of windowpanes."
- section from Explore Wisconsin website

  Marion Park in Glidden
(715) 264-4304

Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com

Kehring Photo Gallery
(scroll down to the "From Around Glidden, Wisconsin" section)

freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com

 

6

Historic Lighthouses

 

location:  Ashland
lighthouse

Ashland Breakwater lighthouse:  "...the Ashland Breakwater light is located in nearby Chequamegon Bay. It was built at the west end of 1-1/2 mile long breakwater, in the middle of the harbor, at Ashland, Wisconsin to guide ships into this once important iron ore shipping center. The square white, reinforced concrete 60-foot tower was built in 1915 at a cost of $25,000. The watch room is made of steel plates, supporting a cast iron lantern with helical bars across the lantern glass. The original Fourth Order lens has been removed, and the light is now solar powered."

LaPointe lighthouse:  "This light was established in 1858, when it was discovered the 1857 Michigan Island lighthouse was in the wrong place. Located on the north shore of Long Island, the light marks the east side of the north channel, in and out of Chequamegon Bay, between Madeline Island and Long Island. Long Island is in reality a disconnected piece of land at the end of Chequamegon Point, a long, pine-covered, sandbar that juts out from the Wisconsin mainland to create a fine natural harbor for the towns of Washburn and Ashland....The present white steel tubular structure, supported by four skeletal legs, was erected in 1896, at the same time as the present Chequamegon Point Light was being erected on the west end of the island....The structure is topped by a watch room and octagonal lantern. A red roof and ventilator ball give color to the all white tower....The light was automated in 1964, and is presently shown by a modern airport-type beacon. Trees surrounding the station hide all but the top of the tower from off-shore. A National Park Service dock is located nearby and visitors are welcome."

Chequamegon lighthouse:  ""The original Chequamegon Light was established on the western end of Long Island in 1868 to mark the entrance to Chequamegon Bay and the towns of Washburn and Ashland. It was replaced in 1896 by a square, white steel room on steel legs. The little room is topped by an octagonal lantern with a red roof, and is similar to the Alpena Light on Lake Huron. In 1986, the Coast Guard moved the light back from the shore to keep it from falling into the lake. The light is presently mostly hidden by pine trees that have been allowed to grow up around it. It has been replaced by a modern "sewer pipe’ with a small light and electronic fog signal. These two lights are located about one mile from the LaPointe Light. Access is by walking from the dock at the LaPointe station along the beach. At one time, a boardwalk connected the two lights, and early light keepers rode bicycles from the LaPointe station to tend the Chequamegon Point light.
- sections from Lighthouses of the Great Lakes website


  Ashland Breakwater lighthouse is not accessible by land, but can be viewed from the lakeshore of Ashland (best at Bay View Park).

                  

  Chequamegon & LaPointe lighthouses are located on Long Island, the northernmost point of Ashland County.  These lights can only be visited by boat.

Seeing the Light
1. Ashland Breakwater
2. Chequamegon Point
3. LaPointe (old) (new)

Lighthouse Friends
1. Ashland Breakwater
2. Chequamegon Point
3. LaPointe

Lighthouses of the Great Lakes
1. Ashland Breakwater
2. Chequamegon Point
3. LaPointe

Lighthouse Celebration
www.lighthousecelebration.com

Apostle Island Cruises
www.apostleisland.com

book:
"Lighthouses of Wisconsin"
by Bruce Roberts & Ray Jones
Globe Pequot Press (2006)
page 65
buy it at
Amazon.com
buy it at
Barnes & Noble.com

book:
"Wisconsin Lighthouses"
by Ken Wardius & Barb Wardius
Big Earth Publishing (2000)
pages 21 - 25
buy it at
Amazon.com
buy it at
Barnes & Noble.com

 


updated 10-28-09  •  all images excluding those attributed to others are property of Wisconsinosity.com