Isle Royale

An aerial view of this park reveals clues to the formation of the islands and the existence of a massive rift in the earth’s crust. All the islands are relatively long and narrow and geologists theorize that the land is part of the original Superior basin which formed 1.2 billion years ago. In more recent years, glaciers had a significant impact on the land as they retreated and left small linear deposits, forming hills on the southwestern part of the islands. Over the next several thousand years vegetation took root on the islands and eventually attracted and supported wildlife.

Long before the arrival of the biologists on Isle Royale, Paleo-Indians frequented the islands and mined the rich copper deposits. The copper was shaped into ceremonial pieces and tools which, in turn, were traded for goods. Large scale mining of the region didn’t start until the mid 1800’s and had a relatively short existence due to the small quantities of available copper. In the early 20th century tourism became popular as people learned of this wild and remote region.

In 1948, a 15-mile ice bridge formed, connecting Isle Royale with the mainland. It was during this winter that a small pack of wolves migrated to the island in search of food. With a substantial moose population already established, the wolf population flourished. Since the arrival of the wolves, wildlife biologists have focused their attention on the interdependence of organisms within this isolated environment.

In 1920 Albert Stoll, Jr. argued for the preservation of Isle Royale as a National Park and won the support of Stephen Mather, Director of the National Park Service. Unfortunately, it took Mather’s death in 1930 to create renewed public attention which led to the signing of a bill establishing Isle Royale as a National Park. Due to WWII, formal dedication did not occur until 1946.