For the second time in a week, the National Park Service has recognized a portion of a Wisconsin State Park in Door County. On Wednesday, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland designated 16 new National Historic Landmarks, including Rock Island Site II at Rock Island State Park. The site was nominated in 2020 for being a well-preserved archaeological site that highlights the migration of Native Americans through the area, including the Potawatomi, Huron, Petun, Odawa, Sauk, Fox, Menominee, and Winnebago tribes. According to the nomination papers, the first mention of the site dates back to 1640 by the Jesuit missionary Fr. Paul le Jeune. State Park The recognition will allow the state to preserve the area for years to come, thanks to federal funding and other efforts.

With this designation, Rock Island Site II joins the Namur Historic District as Door County’s entries on the National Historic Landmarks list. Earlier this week, it was announced that the National Park Service would grant the Ice Age Trail unit status as a part of its scenic trails system. The Eastern Terminus of the Ice Age Trail is located in Sturgeon Bay's Potawatomi State Park.