Fountain Lake Farm - Montello, WI
N 43° 41.444 W 089° 23.731
16T E 306944 N 4840312
Saunter where John Muir spent his teen years clearing the wilderness for the family farm across the lake. Explore the environment that fanned his love for nature.
Waymark Code: WM1WP3
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 07/21/2007
Views: 38
Fountain Lake Farm, John Muir's Boyhood Home
Marquette County John Muir Memorial Park
State Natural Area No. 96.
Marquette County Ice Age Trail John Muir Segment
This area was settled in 1849 by the Muir family coming from Scotland. Fountain Lake Farm became the boyhood home of John Muir, "father" of our National Parks, founder of the Sierra Club. He admired the natural beauty of the area. He developed a profound love for nature here. He became a spokesperson for the preservation of the wilderness.
The site had been grazed but recovery took place when Professor Hugh Iltis for UW Madison first saw the fen in the late 1950's.
A granite marker was erected in 1957 when John Muir Memorial Park was dedicated to Muir. Recommended by Professor Iltis, this site was designated a state natural area in March 1972.
The lake is a 30-acre kettle lake in ground morraine. The water is clear, spring and seepage fed with a maximum depth of 30 feet. The plant communities include a rich fen that lies along the outlet stream, sedge meadow, open bog, northern wet forest dominated by tamarack, southern dry forest, oak opening, and wet-mesic prairie. The fen and wet-mesic prairie are highlighted by such showy species as New England aster, bottle and small fringed gentians, prairie blazing star, grass of parnassus, pitcher plant, nodding ladies tresses, prairie dock and golden alexanders.
Park Open Year Round. Picnic Area. Pets on Leash. Restrooms-Seasonal. Fishing, no motor lake. No Hunting.
Street address:
N1424 CTH F
Corner of CTH F and Gillette Rd.
Montello, WI USA
53949
County / Borough / Parish: Marquette
Year listed: 1990
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Wisconsin Farm Home Site of John Muir
Periods of significance: 1825-1849, 1850-1874
Historic function: Landscape that shaped the course of John Muir's life.
Current function: Outdoor classroom for environmental education, county park, ice age trail, state natural area.
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Privately owned?: Not Listed
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 1: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.