Located on the riverside border with Michigan, Marinette is a lively city in north-east Wisconsin. It was originally home to the Menominee people before the arrival of French Canadian fur traders in 1794. The city flourished with the lumber boom of the late 19th century and now serves as the seat of Marinette County.
Things to do in Marinette
If you're interested in the area’s industrial past, head to the Marinette County Historical Logging Museum with its miniature logging camp. Browse the Native American artefacts on display and learn about the life of Queen Marinette, who ran a trading post here in the 19th century. Also exhibited are furnishings and belongings of Isaac Stephenson, a former United States senator.
Occupying a narrow sand spit jutting into Lake Michigan is Red Arrow Park, which features a children’s playground and a beach where you can swim in the summer months. It connects to the Seagull Bar State Natural Area, where migratory birds come to rest and refuel. Explore the sand ridges and dunes along the eastern edge of the bar and visit the lagoon where thousands of shorebirds congregate in spring and autumn.
Directly across the mouth of the Menominee River from Marinette is Lighthouse Ann Arbor Park, which is named after its bright red tower. First illuminated in 1877, the Menominee North Pier Lighthouse can be accessed via a leisurely stroll along its wide pier. Coincide your visit with an opening to explore the interior and climb the 42 steps that lead to the top.
Getting around Marinette
Marinette is around an hour’s drive from Green Bay and Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Regular buses connect to Marinette, although renting a car is the most convenient way of exploring the area.