Wisconsin's Apostle Islands could become America's newest national park

MADISON - The Apostle Islands could soon become Wisconsin's first national park, thanks to an effort by several federal lawmakers.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany introduced a bill Tuesday that would designate the area as a national park, upgrading it from its current designation as a national lakeshore. The first hearing on the matter was held Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

Becoming a national park would attract more people to the Apostle Islands, sharing the natural beauty of the islands and shores of Lake Superior.

"I just think the Apostle Islands fit the bill of a national park. I mean, these are places that are truly special in America," Tiffany said. "It deserves a designation as a national park, because it really is one of the great places, not just in Wisconsin and the upper Midwest, but in all of the United States."

Tiffany, a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, said bringing more visitors could mean more revenue for local businesses. Going to certain parks is often a part of bucket lists for travelers from America and beyond.

"I think there's just a certain prestige with being a national park that is going to create more visitors and more activity," he said.

Other supporters include U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald and U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, all Republicans. The legislation has local support and Indigenous tribes, including the Bad River and Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, have been consulted, Tiffany said.

Tiffany sees this designation as an opportunity for bipartisanship among lawmakers.

"I don't see any reason why we can't do this by unanimous consent, where everyone agrees," he said.

A number of new national parks have been added to the roster in the last several years. In 2020, the New River Gorge in West Virginia earned the designation and in 2019 two parks were designated: White Sands in New Mexico and the Indiana Dunes, in northwest Indiana along Lake Michigan.

The Indiana Dunes is likely the most comparable national park, Tiffany said, due to its location along the Great Lakes. The designation for the Dunes took decades, with the effort starting in 1916, according to the Indianapolis Star .

Tiffany said that while it wouldn't be possible to conserve all of the shorelines along the Great Lakes, the area containing the Apostle Islands has something "special" about it, from the shipwrecks to the lighthouses to the natural beauty.

"I think the Apostle Islands is just truly one of those unique places that deserves that designation," he said.

The Apostle Island National Lakeshore was designated in 1970, and consists of a collection of 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland, according to the National Park Service . A popular destination for camping, the area is also known for activities such as sailing and scuba diving, in addition to miles of hiking trails and fishing spots.

The Madeline Island Ferry carries visitors from La Pointe and Bayfield to Madeline Island, a 25-minute ride that boasts views of Lake Superior and several of the islands.

Other Wisconsin areas with national designations include the Ice Age National Scenic Trail , designated in 2023 after years of work from state volunteers and enthusiasts, the North Country National Scenic Trail and the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway.

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on Twitter at @SchulteLaura .

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin's Apostle Islands could become America's newest national park