Washington Island



Washington Island is about six miles off the tip of the Door Peninsula.  Your journey to the island begins with a scenic ferry ride from Gills Rock.  The Washington Island roads will take you to small shops, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, parks, beaches, and farms.



 

The dock where your exploration of the island begins

 




Another lighthouse along the way

 

Many of the early settlers were from the Scandinavian countries.  They were fishermen, farmers, and loggers.  Today the island is an escape from the stresses of urban life.



If you like horses you will enjoy learning about Norse Horse Park(NHP).  NHP is a one of a kind in the nation that has created a living park of native horses of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark.  They are of unique color and physical presence.  You can read more  about them on the web site:  http://norsehorsepark.com/nhp.culture.html




A rare breed of Fjord from Norway



A Finn breed from Finland



The type of shelters that was used by the nomads of Nordic history . . . looks familiar doesn't it?  However it was used far before the Plains Indians of North America.




A collection of ducks from Sweden, Norway and Finland 



Jerry Maiers is a retired college professor and five years ago bought this property and started his "dream."  Norse Horse Park represents that dream.  He and his wife Mary also are creating a special vegetable garden all created from natural organic seeds.  They will be adding more breeds of horses to their current group, goats from the Scandinavian countries and improving on their creation of organic seeds on the island. 


                      The Sievers School of Fiber Arts

A "Nancy" stop to visit the Sievers School that has week-long and weekend classes - like John C. Campbell in NC.  Bill slept in the car.

                          

Every road or pathway  on Washington Island will eventually lead to water.