About Us

The Apostle Islands Historic Preservation Conservancy is established to be a hands-on, public interest organization that supports the preservation and interpretation of historic structures and cultural landscapes throughout the Apostle Islands Region of northern Wisconsin. All actions to fulfill this purpose that involve the interests of government agencies or other organizations will be pursued on a cooperative basis and developed and undertaken by means of full consultation and consensus. In the case of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, any action to be considered by the Conservancy shall be either specifically requested or proposed by the National Park Service/Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, or supported or determined acceptable in advance by the same. 

• To advance and assure the continuity of knowledge and understanding of the multi-layered history of human occupation and use of the Apostle Islands, including Native American cultures, immigrant and homestead families, tourism, recreation, shipping, fishing, farming, forestry, quarrying, and the community life of the islands.
• To assist other organizations involved in preserving the history of the Apostle Islands region of Wisconsin.
• To assist in the care and maintenance of historic structures.
• To support in-depth educational programs, classes, tours, walks, and talks concerning the history and cultures of the island residents and their occupations, skills, and community life.
• To develop and support programs that actively engage young people of the region in service learning and school-to-work programs, while utilizing the energy and abilities of these young people in beneficial projects that serve to aid in preservation of the structures and cultural landscapes of the region.
• To support research and prepare brochures, articles, studies, and other presentations on the history of the region.
• To provide opportunities for the continued active association with the Apostle Islands for the families who have resided there and contributed to the Islands’ history over the past century or more.

Nina Archabal | St. Paul, MN

Kathy Benson & Tom Benson | Edina, MN/Rocky Island

Phebe Blackburn | Indianapolis, IN

John Chapple | Kirkland, WA/Madeline Island, WI

Ryan Connell (Chairman) | Minneapolis, MN/Bayfield/Rocky Island, WI

Kaitlyn Cunningham | Black River Falls, WI/Rocky Island, WI

Robert Dahl (Vice Chairman) | Jacksonville, FL/Sand Island, WI

Tom Gordon | Red Cliff/Bayfield, WI

Wes Harris | Bloomington, IN /Sand Island, WI

Curt Jensch | South Portland, ME/Sand Island, WI

Steven Lewis | Bayfield, WI/St. Louis, MO

Jim Lynn & James Lynn | Ashland, WI/Rocky Island, WI

Bob Mackreth | Washburn, WI

Ned Moody | Oak Park, IL/Frog Bay, WI

Heidi Nelson(Secretary) | Bayfield, WI/Rocky Island, WI

Robert Nelson (Executive Team Coordinator) | Bayfield, WI/Rocky Island, WI

Jeff Peters & Jill Peters | Mellen, WI/Sand Island,WI/Maui, HI

Katherine Rice Hayes(Treasurer) | Sand Island, WI

Molly Rice | St. Joseph,WI/Sand Island, WI

Carolyn Sneed | Washburn, WI

Brian Ross Tanning | St. Paul, MN

Rita Urevig | Port Wing, WI