Kewaunee
County Attractions
Stretching
from the western shore of Lake Michigan to the eastern shore of
Green Bay, Kewaunee County was inhabited by the Native American
Potowatomi for more than three hundred years before Jean Nicolet
set foot on the Kewaunee shore in 1634. The name "Kewaunee"
is Potowatomi for "We are lost". Indians lost in the
fog offshore would cry out "Kewaunee, Kewaunee" hoping
to be guided to safety by answering calls from the shore.
With communities
founded by immigrants from many nations, including Bohemia, Belgium,
Czechoslovakia, Germany, Ireland, Luxemburg and Poland, Kewaunee
County contributes to the largest concentration of widely diverse
oldworld settlements in the United States, and is included as
part of the Wisconsin Ethnic Settlement Trail. Communities established
by 19th century European pioneers maintain and share their ancestors'
traditions, customs, crafts, and cuisine. Unique old-world foods,
music, and crafts are still enjoyed in Kewaunee County homes,
shops, and restaurants, holiday get-togethers, church socials
and year-round ethnic festivals.
The countryside
is dotted with steeples of churches established by the early settlers.
Many have been rebuilt or reconstructed over the years and continue
to serve the descendants of their original congregations. Area
history is also well-preserved and displayed in more than 100
restored historic homes, churches, and commercial buildings, from
18th century log cabins to elegant Victorian mansions and a unique
19th century dungeon and jailhouse museum, full of artworks, artifacts
and displays that bring life to the county's exciting past.
Kewaunee County's two Lake Michigan harbors, Algoma and Kewaunee,
have enjoyed a long and colorful maritime past, serving military,
commercial and passenger vessels of many nations for more than
six centuries. Vessels built by Kewaunee County shipbuilders have
sailed the Great Lakes and the seven seas. From the turn of the
20th century through the 1940's, the area's commercial fishing
fleet harvested great netsfull of fish from Lake Michigan
Today, its charter
fishing fleet provides Lake Michigan sports fishing thrills with
trophy trout and salmon catches for back-home dining and bragging.
Kewaunee County harbors and marinas offer shelter, repairs, outfitting,
fuel, food and anchorage to thousands of recreational Great Lakes
boaters and sailors annually. The county's maritime history is
preserved and on display in museums, historic vessels, fish shanties,
century-old docks, piers and lighthouses.
Kewaunee County's
inland lakes and streams, and the waters of Lake Michigan offer
swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing, scuba-diving, water-skiing;
almost every watersport imaginable. The quiet, uncrowded atmosphere,
peace and tranquility of the Lake Michigan shoreline, inland lakes
and wetlands invite visitors to stroll along sandy beaches where
the deep blue waters stretch to the horizon; discover unique plant
and animal communities in inland marshlands and river banks; observe
shorebirds and all manner of waterfowl fishing, floating, diving,
chasing waves, calling, courting and nesting in wetlands along
the Lake Michigan shore. Fishing in Kewaunee County lakes yields
Rainbow Trout, Perch, Bluegills, Crappies, Bass, and Bullheads.
Some Tiger Muskies are also found in East Alaska Lake.
Canoeing is a
popular way to get in close touch with the shorebirds, waterfowl,
amphibians, fish, and fur-bearing animals that inhabit the wetlands
and waters of the Kewaunee and Ahnapee Rivers. Launching facilities
and rentals are available on both rivers, and guided trips are
available on the easy-going, no-whitewater upper portion of the
Kewaunee River. The county's scenic rural roads and the Ahnapee
State Trail offer miles and miles of safe cycling, hiking, and
cross-country skiing for close contact with the area's scenic
beauty and wildlife. The Crescent Beach Boardwalk offers spectacular
views of Lake Michigan and the Algoma shoreline; and the Nature
Walk, a 1,500-ft. wooden walkway along the Kewaunee River north
of Kewaunee, leads to an observation deck with a breath-taking
view of the river.
Kewaunee County
provides a wide range of dry-land sports facilities; two public
golf courses, a bowling center, indoor and outdoor Field Archery
Ranges, a 5-Stand Sporting Clay Range, two Trap Ranges, a Rifle
Range, outdoor tennis courts, an 18-hole miniature golf range,
miles of cross-country ski trails, ice-skating rinks, a park with
T-Bar Lift for downhill skiing and a tubing run, and 123 miles
of snowmobile trails.
Kewaunee County
merchants offer shoppers an exciting mixture of unclaimed treasures;
century-old antiques and brand-spanking new creations, old world
crafts and modern works-in-process; whimsical one-of-kind novelties
and fine art pieces. Area specialty food shops, farmers' markets,
roadside stands, orchards and historic winery outlets offer taste
samples and sell some of the best apples, cherries, berries, chocolates,
maple sugar, old world sausages, wines, ethnic foods, baked goods,
cheeses, and dozens of varieties of fresh, dried and smoked fish
from nearby waters.
Kewaunee County
restaurants are a diner's delight, featuring freshly caught fish,
ethnic cuisine, just-picked local fruits and vegetables, homemade
frozen custard, ice cream and pastries. Great food offered at
some of the best value pricing in the state.
After a day of
fun, exploration and discovery, Kewaunee County visitors can choose
from many different accommodations, including hundreds of campsites
from primitive to full service electrical sites, an elegantly
restored Victorian Hotel, charming bed-and-breakfast inns, full
service lodges and luxurious inns.
Located 95 miles north
of Milwaukee, Kewaunee County is easy to get to, great to visit
and hard to leave.
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Museums and Historic
Sites
Old Jail Historical
Museum
Courthouse Square, Kewaunee
920-388-4410
Built in 1876 as the sheriff's residence and county jail, this
unique building now houses the Kewaunee County Historical Society
Museum. Inside the museum are three floors of fascinating local
history exhibits and displays, including a group of life-size
basswood statuary depicting Pere Jacques Marquette's 1674 landing
in Kewaunee; a model of the U.S.S. Pueblo an electronic surveillance
ship built and launched in Kewaunee in 1944 and captured in 1968
by the North Koreans; "Custer's Last Stand" -- a monumental
three-dimensional, wood carving and a truly fine work of art;
and, of course, the original 1876 jail with dungeon-type cell
block of 5' X 6' cells secured with riveted strap-iron lattice-work
doors and partitions - it is one of the last remaining examples
of the kind in the United States. Open daily 10:30 am. - 4:30
pm.
St. Agnes By
The Lake
Algoma
920-487-2041
Before the Algoma lighthouse was constructed in 1893, the steeple
on St. Agnes, then known as Grace Church, served as a navigational
guide for ships on Lake Michigan. Designed by the founder of the
Institute of Architects, Richard Upjohn, the church was built
in 1877 and burned just 7 years later. The intricately carved
altarpieces were salvaged and an exact replica of the church was
constructed on the original foundation.
Art Dettman
Fish Shanty
Church and N. Water St., Algoma
920-487-2041
Once the place where the largest commercial fishing fleet on Lake
Michigan brought much of its harvest for shipping and processing,
the Art Dettman Fish Shanty is listed on both the State and National
Registers of Historic places.
von Stiehl
Winery
115 Navarino St., Algoma
920-487-5208
Wisconsin's oldest winery, the von Stiehl winery, was built in
the 1850's and is listed on both the State and National Registers
of Historic Places. The winery offers guided tours, from 9 am.
to 5 pm. daily, May 1 - October 31; it is open until 6 pm. in
July and August; and offers tasting and sales during open hours
May through October. Hours are 11 am. - 5 pm. November-December,
and 11 am. - 4 pm. January through April.
Marquette Historic
District
Kewaunee
920-388-4822
The Victorian era is on display in the City of Kewaunee's Marquette
District. Here, visitors will find more than 40 homes, from the
late 1800's and early 1900's, featuring old time elegance lovingly
tended and restored. Several of the larger homes have been
converted into bed and breakfast establishments and a hotel built
in 1858 has been restored. A walking tour map may be obtained
from the Kewaunee Tourist Information Center.
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Parks and Nature Centers
Kewaunee Nature
Walk
Kewaunee
920-388-4822
This 1,500 ft. boardwalk path over the marshlands is a birders'
paradise where all kinds of waterfowl congregate. Located one-quarter
mile north of the City of Kewaunee, the walkway meanders through
the wetland habitat along the Kewaunee River, ending in an observation
deck with a breathtaking panoramic view of the
river.
Red River Park
Dyckesville
Located two miles north of Dyckesville on State Hwy. 57, this
county park provides access to fishing and boating on Green Bay, with playground, picnic tables, grills,
shelters and restrooms.
Little Scarboro
Fishing and Wildlife Areas
Luxemburg
Scarboro Creek is a Class III trout stream stocked annually with
brown trout. The Little Scarboro Fishing Area is open to the public.
An inland trout stamp is needed, but anglers can catch stocked
and native brook and brown trout along some native brook trout
in this area. The Little Scarboro Wildlife area is open to public
hunting. Rabbit, grouse, deer and squirrel hunting are permitted
in season with licenses available from the Department of Natural
Resources and local licensing agents. Special tags are required
for pheasant hunting in this
area.
Ahnapee State
Trail
Algoma to Sturgeon Bay
The Ahnapee State Trail is a 15.3-mile hiking, bicycling, horseback
and snowmobile trail that stretches from Algoma to Sturgeon Bay
along the Ahnapee River. The trail passes through meadows, rolling
farmland and cedar glades teeming with wildlife. The railroad
bridge has recently been replaced and the Kewaunee County portion
of the trail has been newly resurfaced.
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Points of Interest
Kewaunee Nuclear
Plant
State Hwy. 42, Kewaunee
920-388-0688
The Kewaunee Nuclear Plant tower is a landmark for visitors entering
and leaving the county. At 535 megawatts, the plant's generator
is Wisconsin's largest. Since its 1974 start-up, the plant's operating
and safety record has been rated outstanding by industry analysts.
Fishing around the plant is so good that anglers are always there,
no matter what the weather may be. The plant has no arrangement
for visitors. For a fascinating discovery tour of the nuclear
power industry, visitors are encouraged to visit The Point Beach
Energy Information Center, located on Nuclear Rd. south of Cty.
Hwy BB.
St. Joseph
Parish Church
Hwy. 29, Pilsen
The first Czechoslovakian settlers came to Kewaunee County in
1863 and named their community Pilsen after their original home
in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. They build their first church in 1874
and the present one in 1912. During the week you may be able to
see the church's old world interior by calling at the
Rectory.
C.D. "Buzz"
Besadny Fish & Wildlife Area and Anadromous Fish Facility
N. 3884 Ransom Moore Ln., Kewaunee
920-388-1025
Nestled in the scenic valley of the Kewaunee River, the new Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources Fish Collection Facility began
operation in 1990. Here anadromous fish - species that swim upstream
for reproduction - are directed up a fish ladder into a collection
pond for spawning. Two large underwater viewing windows allow
visitors to observe large lake trout and salmon thrash and leap
up the ladder to the spawning pond. Peak activity is in spring,
late summer and fall when spawn is collected to raise fingerlings
to stock the Lake Michigan sports fishery. Enjoy the quiet beauty
of the river, the frenzied activity in the ladder, and the restful
walkways around the pond.
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Special Things to
Do
Farm and Flea
Markets
Kewaunee County
Taste, enjoy and take the flavors of Kewaunee County home from
the Algoma Farm and Flea Market, where the area's best; bedding
plants, flowers, vegetables, apples, cherries, berries, tomatoes,
cheeses, home-made sausages, fresh, smoked and frozen fish, poultry,
baked goods and more are found side-by-side with collectibles,
antiques, curiosities and surprises. Area Markets are:
Algoma Farm
and Flea Market
Cty. Hwy. S., Algoma
Saturdays, 8 am. to sellout.
Old Country
Farm Market
Hwy. 42, five miles south of Kewaunee Fridays, 11 am. - 6 pm.
Scenic Lakeshore
Drive
Kewaunee County
Take a leisurely drive along this scenic road from Kewaunee north
to Algoma, winding through beautiful dairy country along a high
plateau above Lake Michigan. The views are spectacular.
Crescent Beach
Boardwalk
Algoma
For a panoramic view from shoreline to the horizon, stroll along
Algoma's Crescent Beach Boardwalk from the Visitor Center to the
Marina. Or walk along the beach from the boardwalk and out to
the north end of the pier to Algoma's century-old red lighthouse
for a landward view of the city shoreline.
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