Fountain Lake Farm
National Historic Landmark

Fountain Lake Farm

Montello, Marquette County, Wisconsin
Listed
June 20, 1990
Type
Site
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
90000471

About this property

Fountain Lake Farm, also known as the Wisconsin Farm Home of John Muir, is a historic farm and National Historic Landmark in rural Montello, Wisconsin, United States. The landmark covers part of the farm that was the home of pioneering conservationist John Muir from 1849 to 1856 and 1860 to 1862. Covering 80 acres (32 ha), the landmarked area is partly private property and partly in John Muir Memorial County Park, a minimally developed public park. John Muir came to the United States in 1849 as an eleven-year-old immigrant with his father, who established a farm in Marquette County, Wisconsin. The 160-acre (65 ha) farm property later expanded to 320 acres (130 ha) in what was essentially undeveloped wilderness, which would play a significant role in developing the young Muir's appreciation of nature and the development of his conservation ethic. Muir explored Fountain Lake, partially on the farm property and the farm's namesake, and the ecosystems that surrounded it. The family farmstead was located on a knoll in the northeastern portion of the acreage 80 acres (32 ha) that makes up the landmark designation. The landmarked area is a rectangle consisting of those southern 80 acres of the Muir property. It is bounded on the north by Gillette Drive, and includes of a parcel of private land at its northeast corner, as well as the northeastern part of the county's John Muir Memorial Park. The private land, about 18 acres (7.3 ha), includes the area that was the site of the Muir's farmhouse. The southern and western portions of the landmarked area are accessible via a trail that encircles the lake and via a parking area on County Road F. There are no standing structures in the landmarked area that date to the Muir's ownership, although some trees survive from the Muir period. National Register of Historic Places listings in Marquette County, Wisconsin Fountain Lake Farm National Historic Landmark (video) Muir Park Trail Map and Guide Archived October 20, 2016, at the Wayback Machine

Location

Montello, Marquette County, Wisconsin
43.69071, -89.38822

Categories

CONSERVATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

Vaughn's Hall and Blacksmith Shop
Industrial
7.6 mi
Montello Commercial Historic District
Listed
7.7 mi
Richter, Charles Samuel, House
Industrial
7.7 mi
Marquette County Courthouse and Marquette County Sheriff's Office and Jail
Industrial
7.7 mi
Bonnie Oaks Historic District
Listed
9.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fountain Lake Farm listed on the National Register?

Fountain Lake Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 20, 1990.

What type of historic resource is Fountain Lake Farm?

Fountain Lake Farm is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Fountain Lake Farm a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Fountain Lake Farm has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Fountain Lake Farm?

The period of significance for Fountain Lake Farm is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1849.

Can I research the history near Fountain Lake Farm?

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