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September 26th is Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Founder’s Day
In this time of uncertainty in our national parks, it is more important than ever to look back at the wisdom and foresight of those who helped protect our most treasured landscapes such as the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
55 years ago today, on September 26th, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon signed Public Law 91-424, a bill “To provide for the establishment of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in the State of Wisconsin.” Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was born.
Devils island sandstone cliffs and lighthouse – Jon Okerstrom photo
That simple signature was the culmination of nearly a decade of effort, hundreds of public meetings, thousands of pages of public and congressional testimony, and at least a dozen drafts of the final legislation, all spearheaded by Senator Gaylord Nelson. Best known as the founder of Earth Day, Nelson is also often cited as “the father of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.”
Senator Gaylord Nelson
It was at Nelson’s urging that President John F. Kennedy came to the Apostles in September of 1963, flying over the Apostle Islands, as part of his national conservation tour. Looking down on a flock of sailboats in the islands, the president, a sailor himself, immediately understood the potential of these islands. At his speech in Ashland, the president proclaimed, “Anyone who flies over those islands as we did, knows that any day spent not working to protect these islands is a wasted day.”
Gaylord Nelson saw it too, saying “This is a unique collection of islands…..there is not another collection of islands of this significance within the continental boundaries of the United States. I think it is tremendously important that this collection of islands be preserved.”
President Kennedy and Gaylord Nelson (right side of photo) at the Ashland, Wisconsin airport in 1963
It would be another 7 years and two presidents later before the final bill was signed into law, but the persistence of people like Gaylord Nelson and others who saw a potential place for the Apostle Islands among the National Park system finally paid off 55 years ago today.
Outer Island Lighthouse – Jon Okerstrom photo
With your continued support, Friends of the Apostle Islands works to preserve and protect the legacy of Gaylord Nelson and the many others through the centuries who saw the potential of the Apostle Islands and worked to preserve them, for all of us.
On this Founder’s Day, please consider an extra gift of support to keep Friends strong far into the future.
Additional topics related to this article | Cultural History | Gaylord Nelson | Park and Local History
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