Madeline Island Museum. Photo by Kate Bortell. ⬇️

Madeline Island Museum. Photo by Kate Bortell. ⬇️

Madeline Island shoreline from the air. Photo by Jennifer Lorenz Dalquist. ⬇️

Madeline Island shoreline from the air. Photo by Jennifer Lorenz Dalquist. ⬇️

Replica of an Ojibwe dugout canoe, “Gitchigaming Manitowid”, or "In The Spirit of Lake Superior”. Photo by Paul DeMain. ⬇️

Replica of an Ojibwe dugout canoe, “Gitchigaming Manitowid”, or "In The Spirit of Lake Superior”. Photo by Paul DeMain. ⬇️

Map from an exhibit at Connecting Cultures: Exploring the Lake Superior Fur Trade. Photo by Kate Bortell. ⬇️

Map from an exhibit at Connecting Cultures: Exploring the Lake Superior Fur Trade. Photo by Kate Bortell. ⬇️

From an old postcard, La Pointe WI, circa 1910. Wisconsin Historical Society collection MI2001.1.41. ⬇️

From an old postcard, La Pointe WI, circa 1910. Wisconsin Historical Society collection MI2001.1.41. ⬇️

Friends of the Madeline Island Museum

Supporting the Museum’s Mission to Preserve and Tell Island Stories

We are an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, incorporated in the State of Wisconsin.
The Madeline Island Museum is owned and managed by the Wisconsin State Historical Society.

About Us

How the Friends Support the Museum

  • Expand awareness of the museum and its programs

  • Offer volunteer support

  • Raise funds to enhance the museum’s offerings

  • Advocate for the well-being of the museum

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Videos: 2025 Annual Meeting
Videos: 2025 Annual Meeting

What’s going on in the Museum yard?  You may have stopped by to see the canoe projects underway this summer. There are two: the building of a new birchbark canoe using traditional Anishinaabe techniques and the restoring of a 16-foot-long 1905 birchbark canoe. View the videos for the annual meeting reports, and to hear the full story of why and how the canoes are under construction.

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Video — History Popup: The Dugout Canoe of Hidden Beach
Video — History Popup: The Dugout Canoe of Hidden Beach

The Dugout Canoe of Hidden Beach: Unraveling a Puzzle
Presented by Barbara Coffin & Dan Engstrom.
View the video of the popup presentation and discussion.

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Video: Discussion of History of Tennis on Madeline Island
Video: Discussion of History of Tennis on Madeline Island

Kip Dooley and Friends members, including Sara Greenman Sheehan, gather at the South Shore Tennis Courts to reminisce about tennis on Madeline Island through the years. Click to enjoy the video of the discussion…

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Behind the Scenes Tour of the Museum
Behind the Scenes Tour of the Museum

Attendees had a great time getting a look at the archives and working areas of the museum, and hearing about visions of possible upgrades to the building and site. Click to view pictures of the tour and hidden spaces…

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Patty Loew, Oral history talk on Madeline Island: Creation Story Sky Woman and the Animals
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Madeline Island, Fall & Winter, 1946–1948: A Historical Film Screening
Sep 11
Madeline Island, Fall & Winter, 1946–1948: A Historical Film Screening

Free and Open to the Public!
At Madeline Island Museum.
This video, shown in tribute to Gary Russell and Howard Russell Jr., features island life in the late 1940s. It was filmed by Howard Russell Sr., and narrated by Rev. Walter Ralph.

CoSponsored by the Friends of the Madeline Island Museum
and the Madeline Island Historical Preservation Association.

Join Us

How You Can Help

  • Volunteer with us at the museum

  • Attend one of our events

  • Join one of our projects

  • Help with fundraising

  • Donate to help our efforts

Friends gather at Ojibwe Memorial Park on Madeline Island.

Friends gather at Ojibwe Memorial Park on Madeline Island.

Sign outside the museum.

Sign outside the museum.

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