Building a Park for All: A History of Voyageurs National Park

by Joan M. Zenzen

Flying over the lakes and land masses that comprise Voyageurs National Park reveals the delicate tracings where water meets land. Puzzle pieces of rich green forest interlock with deep blue lakes varying in size from what seems from the air like a sliver to larger than a handprint. Steely gray rocks edge the boundaries between solid and liquid. Well above the treetops, the area appears as one vast wilderness, an uninhabited landscape left in its natural, uncultivated state. Descending, though, makes apparent the human presence. Bits of cleared land along shorelines disclose lodges, cabins, and docks. Motor boats carve out furrows in the blue fields, leaving behind a V-shaped trail of white foam. Some boats sit languidly on the blue waters with the fishers poking their lines into the immense depths, hoping for the "big one." A houseboat may pleasantly pass by or a sea kayaker might take on the challenge of following every nook and cranny of the intricate waterways. Another seaplane takes off across the water and rises into the sky. This study explores the park's origins and development. Park management must make its decisions with an eye toward the history, preservation of the natural and cultural resources, and recreational use. Not surprisingly, fulfilling this triple purpose has at times aggravated relations between the National Park Service and the people living within the area. This knowledge informs present and future park managers in their own decision-making. General readers also benefit from the information in this study. Local residents, local business owners, and local governmental officials gain appreciation for how their friends, neighbors, and colleagues advocated for issues important to the surrounding communities.

326 pages, Paperback

Published February 23, 2017