BOAT HOUSES
Merrick State Park, Fountain City, Wisconsin—Sept. 2016 44° 08’ 59”N 91° 44’ 56”W Elevation 850 feet
The Highway 43 bridge from downtown Winona, Minnesota, crosses the Mississippi River, landing briefly on Latsch Island before completing its span into Wisconsin. An exit ramp on the Minnesota side of the island leads to a road under the bridge where a number of tiny houses float on blue barrel pontoons; wooden walkways connect these dwellings to the shore — most of the time. In high water like this, residents use boats to reach their homes. This Big Blue cairn is assembled from vases and plates purchased in area flea markets and an inverted handblown water drop, donated by an artisan at Third Degree Glass Factory in St. Louis, Missouri.
For more information about the houses: