On Wednesday, February 12th join us for a special lunchtime presentation at White Oak Grill on the first inhabitants that roamed the Northwoods thousands of years ago. Jim will talk about the customs and the way of life for the Ojibwe, the Anishinaabe, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Indians, our Indigenous predecessors…

Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 5 pm - 7pm Join us for a special event on the Pioneers of Historic Preservation.

Thursday, June 5 2025, 9:00 am - 11:30 am or 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm Join Jim Bokern, historian with the Manitowish Waters Historical Society, for a two-hour pontoon tour of Alder and Wild Rice lakes. Departing from Alder Lake, this tour will delve into the rich history of the area, featuring historic images and…

Friday, June 13, 2025: 9:00 am - 11:30 am or 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm Want to know the real story behind John Dillinger and his gang, and what happened during their notorious weekend in Manitowish Waters? Hop aboard a pontoon for a guided tour of historic Dillinger sites, led by Kay Krans, historian from…

Friday, June 20, 2025: 9:00 am - 11:30 am Join Kay Krans, a historian of the Manitowish Waters Historical Society, for a two-hour pontoon tour of Stone, Fawn, and Clear Lakes. Departing from Clear Lake, this tour will highlight the fascinating histories of these lakes through historic images. Explore Native American trail networks, the area's…

Join Manitowish Waters Historical Society (MWHS) member Kay Krans on a two-hour pontoon tour of Manitowish and Little Star lakes, departing from the Blue Bayou Inn. Discover the indigenous community's cultural networks, logging camps, railroad landing, early resorts, Ojibwa village, unique residents, and Dillinger's gang. Participants will view many unique historic sites and supplemental historic…

Thursday, June 26, 2025, 3pm - 7pm Explore the history of Manitowish Waters as we take a leisurely hike along local trails, stopping at some of the area's social establishments. With the help of tour guide headsets, you'll be able to easily hear and learn from guides from the Manitowish Waters Historical Society and North…

Tuesday, July 8, 2025: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Join Manitowish Waters Historical Society historian Kay Krans and a North Lakeland Discovery Center naturalist for an evening pontoon tour of Manitowish Lake. Discover the lake’s rich history, myths, and ecology, and enjoy a delicious dessert and coffee on the deck at Blue Bayou Inn. Space…

Friday, July 11, 2025: 9:00 am - 11:30 or 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm Take a step back in time with the Manitowish Waters Historical Society on the Manitowish Waters Crime Pontoon Tour #1. Hear how local residents became involved in bootlegging, supplying alcohol to Chicago and Minneapolis. Learn about the kidnapping of mob boss Leon Gleckman and…

Tuesday, July 15, 2025: 8:30 am – 11:00 am or 11:30 am – 2:00 pm Join Manitowish Waters Historical Society historian Jim Bokern for a two-hour pontoon tour of Spider and Island lakes, departing from Blue Bayou. Discover the area's fascinating history, including Indigenous cultural networks, logging camps, Ojibwa sugar bushes, ricing areas, and early…