National Park Service Announces Non-Wilderness Cultural Resource Management Plan for Isle Royale

The National Parks Service has completed their non-wilderness cultural resources management plan for Isle Royale. Cultural resource management plans are long term strategies for the park service to managing cultural resources outside of designated wilderness. The plan will work with tribes to enhance or revive their relationship with Isle Royale, and increase documentation on Isle Royale use and importance to the Ojibwe tribes in the region. And emphasizes a partnership program for their anticipated projects. If partnerships cannot be found, projects could be delayed, and NPS staff will perform basic maintenance to stabilize historic buildings on the island. 

Significant elements within the park service’s cultural resource management plan include; adaptive reuse of historic structures on Barnum and Washington islands, restoration of the historic Rock Harbor Guesthouse to overnight lodging, establish a scientific demonstration fishery at the Edisen Fishery and Washington Island, enhance interpretative opportunities for historic mining locations within the park, fill gaps in knowledge of the archaeological records for archipelago.

Isle Royale Non-Wilderness Cultural Resource Management Plan Details