Rest Lake was the site of one of the first four ranger stations and watch towers in the state of Wisconsin. The home to ranger Krueger in 1911-12, Rest Lake ranger station (Angler's Restaurant) symbolizes some of the…

Come and explore historic mysteries in Manitowish Waters. 2020 marks the fifth of several presentations detailing 19th and early 20th century mysteries on area lakes and the Manitowish Chain. The 2020 presentation will reveal unsolved historic questions on Fawn, Stone, Ciricle Lily, Dog and Dead Pike lakes. For instance, recently discovered early 20th century images and maps illustrate how the railroad networks around these lakes impacted both logging and tourism.  Also, multiple turn of the century articles suggest that the…

                                                                                      Join local historian Jim Bokern from the Manitowish Waters Historical Society and a Discovery Center Naturalist on two historical hikes exploring Vance Lake, the Manitowish River and the administrative CCC Camp known as Camp Mercer. We will…

Please join us at the town hall on Wednesday, December 9 at 4:00 PM for both our MWHS Annual Meeting and December board meeting. Agendas are available by request or at the meeting.  Please plan to observe COVID 19 precautions if attending.

Join the Manitowish Waters Historical Society board at the town hall for our monthly meeting. Agendas available on site and by request. Social distancing required.

Join local historian Jim Bokern and a Discovery Center Naturalist on a fascinating hike through history in the Toy Lake Swamp State Natural Area. We will explore the lives of the people that lived in this area over a century ago and walk in their footsteps. This is an off-trail, moderately strenuous snowshoe hike. Space is limited. Registration is required by January 14. Saturday, 1 - 4 PM. $15 ($10 members of NLDC or MWHS). **Please bring a facial covering…

Join us for a free ZOOM presentation on the logging era. Manitowish Waters was swept-up in the national push for aggressive 19th century logging and land speculation. Learn how river drive logging for pineries, transition into railroad logging for hardwoods and finally led to more modern logging using trucks and tractors. Importantly, logging defined much of the early development of our community and created challenges for early pioneers seeking homesteads and building businesses.  Historic maps, journals, articles and pictures will be…