Marquette County Attractions
Located in the gently rolling countryside of south-central Wisconsin, Marquette County remains largely untouched by human habitation. Almost two-thirds of the County's 320,000 acres are covered by primitive oak and pine forests alive with an abundance of wildlife, and vast expanses of grassy marshlands, vibrant with the sights and sounds of thousands of nesting and migrating birds.
Named for the French Jesuit explorer, Jacques Marquette, who traveled here in 1673, Marquette County’s waterways remain today much like they did years before -- idyllic waterways, great for canoeing, boating and fishing; rich in wildlife and tranquil beauty.
In 1890, the Montello Express promoted development of Marquette County's tourism potential, editorializing that "It is admitted by most intelligent people that Montello is most favorably suited to make it an attractive and delightful Summer Resort." Today, as at the turn of the last century, Marquette County is a natural vacationer's paradise, but not just for summer anymore!
In spring, the county's woods and wetlands come alive with the sights and sounds of hundreds of thousands of birds; rare and endangered plants spring new growth, trout dart hungrily after the first emerging waterflies, ruffed grouse labor to attract their mates, "drumming" their hearts out on fallen logs, and delicate wildflowers burst into bloom. Hikers, cyclers and canoeists take to the waters and trails, birders take out their binoculars, turkey hunters tryout their calling techniques, and anglers scout out their favorite fishing holes as fast as the melting snows allow.
In fall, as the woods turn to red and gold, migrating birds again fill the countryside with their calls, hunters get ready to respond to the first explosive flash of feathers from the underbrush, and anglers work the lakes and streams for the last of the year's soft-water catches while hikers. Cyclers and canoeists explore the glorious colors and watch the squirrels, beavers, muskrats, mink and otters as they scurry to fill their larders and prepare their shelters for the season ahead.
In winter, cross-country skiers quietly glide through frosted woodlands where inquisitive whitetail deer shyly peek-out from the distance and ermine (weasels in winter wear) lay tracks across the trail; anglers patiently try their hand at hard-water fishing through the ice as beavers and muskrats sun themselves atop the domes of their winter lodgings. Snowmobilers explore the winter wonderland on 250 miles of trail that crisscross the County; trail riders take to horseback and entire families bundle up in buffalo robes to take a horsedrawn sleigh or wagon ride to view the winter scenery as it was seen by the area's first European settlers, 150 years ago.
The father of our country’s National Park Service, naturalist John Muir, spent his boyhood on a Marquette County farm located alongside Fountain Lake, now named Ennis Lake. The lake and the Muir's' Farm are now part of Muir Park; a National Historic Landmark consisting of 125-acres of land and lake restored to the state they were in when Muir's father and brother found them 140 years ago. John Muir's legacy lives on in the pristine beauty and proliferation of recovering plants and animals found in Marquette County's many wildlife conservation and preservation areas, including the Fox River Unit of the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, across the road from Muir Park, Duffy's Marsh, Comstock Marsh, the Summerton Bog and the Germania and Grand River Marshes.
In Marquette County's woods and wetlands, naturalists, birders and casual observers will find hundreds of different species of birds: great flocks of Canada Geese, one of the largest congregations of once-endangered Great Sandhill Cranes in the Midwest, elegant but noisy tundra swans, great blue herons, white egrets, osprey, an occasional bald eagle, ducks galore, songbirds by the score; bluebirds, orioles, thrashers, bob-o-links, towhees and more. Uncommon elsewhere, pileated woodpeckers are common here, but would rather be heard than seen. Pheasants pad through the marshes. Ruffed grouse, woodcock, and quail rustle in the grass. Wild turkeys gobble their way through the countryside while turkey vultures, "black hawks" to the American Indian people, circle effortlessly high in the sky.
Dotted by nearly seventy lakes and ponds, and crisscrossed by fifteen sparkling trout streams, Marquette County has some of the most varied and productive fishing spots in the Midwest. On the Fox and Grand River systems, monster catfish and Northerns lurk, just waiting to run out your line. Lunker Muskies, Northern, Walleyes, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Bluegills, Perch and Crappies abound in area lakes and mill ponds.
Marquette County's 15 spring-fed trout streams offer plenty of space to whisk out your line, and plenty of Brown, Brook and Rainbow Trout waiting to reward the effort. Public access and boat launching facilities are available on most county lakes and rivers, with many additional private access points at area resorts and campgrounds. Area resorts and outfitters also offer canoe, boat and motor rentals, along with tackle and fresh, live bait to bring in the catch of the day or the thrill of a lifetime.
In the county's more than 6,000 acres of public hunting grounds, hunters will find one of the best whitetail deer herds in the state; an abundance of small game including red and gray foxes, raccoons, coyotes, fox squirrels, ground squirrels, and cottontail rabbits; plenty of ruffed grouse, woodcock, quail, pheasant, wild turkeys, ducks; and, more than 200,000 Canada Geese in season.
Some of Marquette County's most fascinating animal life is raised and displayed by and for exotic animal lovers. Here visitors will find herds of American Bison, Elk and Red Deer, barnyards full of large flightless birds (ostriches and emus), resort grounds sporting peacocks strutting their stuff, and ranches with more than 100 of the most perfect miniatures around - miniature burros, horses and donkeys that stand only 12 inches tall at birth and less than 34 inches tall when mature. Despite their size, these tiny equines pack, pull, kick, gallop, whinny and bray as well as their full-sized relatives.
The County's two golf courses offer 36 holes and all the amenities needed for a perfect pair of outings. Five additional courses, available in neighboring Green Lake and Waushara Counties, give golfers a different course to play every day of the week. Miniature golf enthusiasts will find five courses scattered throughout the county; and bowling is on tap at the area's modern bowling centers.
Treasure hunters enjoy shopping Marquette County's flea markets, antique shops, craft outlets, artisans' workshops and homespun specialty stores for one-of-a-kind antiques, hand-crafted Amish Furniture, quilts, and decorative craft works, collectibles, heirloom jewelry, souvenirs, novelties and memorable gifts for every occasion.
Marquette County's family restaurants, grills, supper clubs, old-fashioned drive-ins, sandwich shops and tea rooms offer widely varied menus, including authentic ethnic specialties, steaks, chops, seafood, wild game and domestic fowl, all made to order with extra care; served with produce fresh from the farm, accompanied by desserts featuring fruits, berries and dairy products from local producers; served indoors, out on the deck overlooking the water, by candlelight under the stars, or around the campfire on the trail.
Marquette County visitors have great accommodations waiting at the end of every active day, including a number of delightful bed and breakfast inns, one in an historic 18th century mansion, full-service RV parks and campsites, primitive spaces under the stars, comfy family-operated motels, lodges and resorts with housekeeping cottages in the woods and on the water, and romantic cabins in secluded forest glens.
Marquette County's pristine beauty is easily accessible from every direction and by all modes of travel -car, public transportation, or by boat! The county's bicycle and snowmobile trails also provide connections to trails from all points of the compass, for those who prefer the less beaten path to this natural wonderland.
Marquette County Historical Society Museum
125 Lawrence Street, Westfield
Take a walk through Marquette County's historic past, brought to life in the Historical Society's extensive collection of artifacts, dating from the area's earliest pioneering days through the mid-twentieth century. The Museum's collection is exhibited in three separate buildings: the newly constructed Kerst Exhibit Building, and two historic structures, a railroad section house containing memorabilia of earlier railroad days, and the Cochrane-Nelson House, a stately two-story home with high-ceilings and filigree woodwork constructed in 1903, furnished from top to bottom with antiques and collectibles that were useful and fashionable when the county was young. The Museum is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 1:00 pm. to 4:00 pm., from the last Wednesday in May through the first Wednesday in September.
Montello Granite Quarry
Hwy. 23, Montello
The Montello granite quarry, opened in 1879, employed more workers and generated more income for Montello than any other single business. Montello red granite was used to build the tombs of U.S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, and decorates Wisconsin's magnificent State Capitol Building. The rapids that once provided the power to run the quarry machinery now form four sparkling waterfalls that cascade over granite outcroppings into the quarry that made Montello famous, and prosperous. The waterfalls and quarry can best be viewed from the Montello Granite Park, located on Hwy. 23 in Montello.
Historic Montello
State Hwy. 23, Montello
Located on Hwy. 23, just west of downtown Montello, are two historic buildings: Le Maison Granit, a Georgian Revival style mansion built of Montello granite in 1909, now operated as an historic retreat and bed and breakfast inn; and, the impressive Marquette County Courthouse, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. What may well be the oldest, but is definitely the largest tree in the State of Wisconsin, a 138 foot tall cottonwood with a crown spread of 132 feet and a 23.2 ft. circumference, stands in the park between these two historic buildings.
John Muir County Park
Co. Hwy. F, Montello
Recently designated a National Historic Landmark, 125-acre Muir Park was the boyhood home of internationally famous naturalist and the father of this country's National Park Service, John Muir. Restored and preserved, as it was 100 years ago when John Muir wandered its hills and meadows, Muir's Fountain Lake Farm still rings with the sounds of songbirds. The shores of Fountain Lake (now renamed Ennis Lake) still dance with the elegant mating rituals of the Great Sandhill Cranes in spring and harbor flocks of waterfowl on their twice-yearly migrations.
Thousands of acres of woodland and marsh have been preserved in Marquette County. In addition, there are rivers and lakes, shopping, golf, and Wisconsin’s largest tree. In Marquette County, there is something for everyone!
Natural Areas – Many of the great natural areas found throughout Marquette County are open to the public and are fantastic places to catch sight of some of the wildlife in the county. These include the Fox River National Wildlife Refuge, Observatory Hill, Summerton Bog, Paige Creek Marsh, Comstock Marsh, Grand River Wildlife Area and the Germania Marsh Wildlife Area.
Prairie Nursery – Located five miles east of Westfield, Prairie Nursery has become a major supplier of prairie plants and seeds to individuals and businesses worldwide. You can stop in and pick up a few things for your own garden or just take a walk in their wildflowers! Free Tours are offered from June to September.
Observatory Hill - Rising 300 feet above the surrounding terrain, this hill is Marquette County's highest point. After hiking up through ancient forests, the view from the top is fantastic! Public access to the site can be reached from the intersection of Hwys. 22 and F on the South side of Montello. See the maps for more precise directions.
Bison Ranch Tours - American Bison (buffalo) have returned to prairie land in Marquette County. BisonRidge Ranch conducts tours of the 275+ bison herd twice daily Thursday thru Sunday from May 15th thru October 15th. Special arrangements can be made for groups. For more information go to www.BisonRidgeRanch.com or call 608-589-5500 for reservations.
Miniature Horse Ranch – The Miniature Horse Capital of Wisconsin sits comfortably in the middle of Marquette County at the MH Ranch! Over 100 of these tiny horses can be seen while tours are offered daily. Visit MH Ranch for details on the times and dates.
Marquette County Historical Society – Sitting comfortably in the historic Cochrane-Nelson house in downtown Westfield, overlooking the mill pond is the Marquette County Historical Society. Get a glimpse of what Marquette County has been throughout the years as you stroll through a museum packed with artifacts from a time long past. The museum is open every Wednesday Afternoon or by appointment.
Wisconsin’s Largest Tree – Yep, that's right, the biggest tree in Wisconsin is an enormous cottonwood sitting prominantly on Hwy 23 in Montello. Situated in front of the historic Marquette County Courthouse and the beautiful Granite Mansion, the tree takes several people linking hands to make the circumferance.
Montello Granite Park and Waterfalls - Four sparkling waterfalls cascade down granite outcroppings into the old Montello granite quarry. Granite from this quarry was used in some of the great monuments in American History, including President Grant's tomb.
The Amish Community - A thriving Amish community has been established in the southeastern part of Marquette County and neighboring Green Lake Coutny near the Villages of Kingston and Dalton. The Amish have over two dozen shops that offer handcrafted furniture and quilts, home-baked and bulk foods, garden produce and more.
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