Quest was founded by Mark Mariucci to give equal treatment to businesses, bars, organizations, etc. throughout the state of Wisconsin. (Quest was preceeded by a short-lived volunteer venture, The Green Apple. Quest was established in its place as a commercial venture to contain more than just ads for bars and businesses, making possible extensive coverage of news, activities, and events in addition to advertising.)

Originally primarily a calendar, directory, and advertising venue (dismissed by some as a 'bar rag', and subheaded "Wisconsin Gay Entertainment Guide"), Quest evolved over time into an important community resource for news and community happenings, especially after the demise of both state LGBT newspapers: In Step and Wisconsin Light. During 2003-2004, the magazine was subheaded "Wisconsin's Source for LGBT News & Entertainment".

In 2006 the owner purchased the rights to OutBound magazine from that magazine's publishers, who were moving out of state. Mariucci continued to publish both publications, with OutBound concentrating more on bar events and calendars, and Quest covering more of a news, articles, and analysis role.

Publishing of those two separate magazines ended in December 2011: beginning with the January 2012 issues of Quest, the OutBound publication was merged into Quest, with Quest converting from a combination of matte and glossy pages and becoming 100% glossy pages, and incorporating the various OutBound features as well. Thus OutBound ceased to exist as a separate publication.

In 2018, Quest Magazine passed an important milestone: it moved into its 25th year of publishing, exceeding the record of the previous longest-running Wisconsin LGBT publication, In Step magazine, which ceased publishing in 2003 after 20 years.

Quest maintained a balanced coverage of news and events statewide throughout its history, although it wisely adjusted news content based on the existence (or non-existence) of other GLBT news media in the state. It especially excelled in coverage of the Drag and show scene, which many other publications covered sparsely.

The publishing industry was in decline nationwide however. As more and more people went on-line for their news and to use social media web sites, advertising revenues declined severely, negatively impacting many publications. For Quest magazine, dwindling ad revenue as well as far fewer issues being picked up in bars and other venues combined to make continuing the publication untenable. Publisher Mark Mariucci was also beginning to concentrate on other ventures: developing the former Historic West Theatre in Green Bay into a live music venue (The Tarlton Theatre), his photography business (mariucciphotography.blogspot.com); and with a full time job in addition. Mark made the decision after the Autumn, 2018 issue to cease publishing.

Wisconsin's longest running LGBT publication was no more. Combined with the recent loss of the Wisconsin Gazette newspaper, Wisconsin was left with only a single LGBT publication: Our Lives, which primarily concentrated on Dane County and central Wisconsin. State-wide cocverage by any publication ended.

NOTE about Copyright: Publisher Mark Mariucci has given permission to this web site to display both Cover images, and full PDF's of all issues of Queest Magazine, on this web site for historical LGBT documentation and research purposes. This permission does not extend to other use or users. It is illegal to reproduce any part of these issues outside of this web site without the permission of the copyright owner, Mark Mariucci.