History

Marinette’s Logging and Heritage Festival celebrates the rich lumbering history that helped shape our city and honors the people who built its foundation. Marinette’s most prominent lumberman, Isaac “Ike” Stephenson (1829–1919)—for whom Stephenson Island is named—later served as a United States Senator from 1906 to 1914. Today, a museum stands on the very site where logs once floated down the Menominee River to be sorted, scaled, and sawn, commemorating the final log drive on this historic river in 1917.

The Stephenson Public Library, constructed with funds donated by Isaac Stephenson, still stands proudly near the Interstate Bridge as a lasting testament to his impact on the community. Many of Marinette’s historic homes along Riverside Avenue and State Street were built by early lumber and retail families prior to World War I. Families such as the Stephensons, Carneys, and Merrymans were known for harvesting white pine, while others—including the Wells family of Menominee and the Goodmans of Marinette—specialized in hardwoods.

For the past 14 years, the Logging and Heritage Festival has brought this history to life through music, food, and family-friendly fun—preserving these traditions for future generations. This celebration would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, whose continued commitment helps ensure the festival’s success year after year.