The history of the Minocqua area is steeped in logging lore. Virgin forests with mammoth, hundred-year-old trees covered nearly 90 percent of the state when early settlers arrived in Wisconsin. The area was viewed as a limitless bounty of lumber, and loggers soon arrived to harvest thousands of acres of old-growth timber, ultimately removing nearly all of the hard wood and pine forests of the north woods before 1900 and leaving the smaller, younger trees you see today.

Settlers were originally transported to the area via the Chicago - Milwaukee - St. Paul railroad when the railroad company promoted Minocqua as a tourist attraction. With its proximity to what are now known as the Chequamegon and Nicolet National forests and the pristine Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest, Minocqua was originally established in 1888 as a logging town with the name Maniwaki. The town’s current name is thought to have been derived from the Ojibwe word “Ninocqua,” which means “noon-day rest.” Others believe the name came from Ojibwe Indian Chief Noc Wib or Minocquip, who lived on the island.

Today Minocqua offers numerous cultural events honoring its Ojibwe heritage, including traditional pow-wows and craft-making classes. There’s even a re-created Ojibwe Indian village and museum nearby. There are also museums and exhibits exploring the community’s history as a logging town.

Minocqua became a popular vacation destination early in its history with the decline of the logging industry in the upper mid-west. With its abundance of fishing and other recreational opportunities, it wasn’t long before fishermen and adventure-seekers from all over, and at least one president, were making a trip to Minocqua an annual event.