Bass Island Brownstone Company Quarry, Historic quarry site on Basswood Island, Wisconsin.
The Bass Island Brownstone Company Quarry extends 200 feet in length and reaches 25 feet in depth, with water now filling its excavated chambers.
From 1868 to 1893, this industrial site provided high-quality brownstone for major construction projects, including the second Milwaukee County Courthouse.
The extracted brownstone from this quarry shaped regional architecture, with materials incorporated into the Chicago Tribune building and Milwaukee's St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
The quarry site lies within Apostle Islands National Lakeshore boundaries, requiring visitors to coordinate water transportation for access to Basswood Island.
The quarry walls contain thick layers of sandstone measuring 12 to 15 feet, displaying different brown and red shades with occasional white streaks.
GPS coordinates: 46.83216,-90.75574
Latest update: March 11, 2025 12:25
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