places we saved
HOW 10 ICONIC SITES WERE
History in the Palm of Your Hand
Destination Door County Launches Heritage Trail Pass
One of the things that makes Door County so special is its deeprooted heritage. It’s a part of who we are and what makes this place unforgettable. From historic buildings and cultural sites to one-of-a-kind museums and landmarks, our peninsula’s story is etched into the landscape and now, it’s going digital.
This summer, Destination Door County is proud to introduce the Heritage Trail Pass, a new mobile experience designed to help visitors and residents alike explore the county’s historical sites in a fresh and engaging way.
The new Heritage Trail Pass works like a digital trail guide, offering an interactive way to explore Door County’s rich history site by site. It invites users to check in at participating heritage organizations and historical businesses across the county. As they visit each location, passholders collect points that can be redeemed for prizes, turning a day of discovery into a fun, interactive challenge.
But this isn’t just about gamification, it’s about connection. The Heritage Trail Pass was created to deepen the visitor experience by encouraging exploration of the stories, places, and people that shaped Door County’s identity. Whether you’re
exploring our maritime legacy, Belgian settlement roots, or the area’s diverse natural landscapes, each stop offers a new perspective on the past and how it still shapes life here today.
One of the best parts? The pass is free and easy to use. There’s no app to download and no login required. Simply sign up and receive a personal link that works right from your phone’s browser. From there, you’re ready to start exploring.
To support the launch, Destination Door County has created a companion rack card and digital promotions throughout the county. The pass will also be prominently highlighted during Door County History Days in June, and across DDC’s website and social channels.
As tourism continues to evolve, initiatives like the Heritage Trail Pass offer more than just new tools. They offer new ways to celebrate and preserve what makes Door County truly special.
So grab your phone, gather your curiosity, and take the Heritage Trail Pass for a spin. The stories waiting to be discovered might just surprise you.
For more information and to sign up, visit doorcounty.com/heritage-trail.
FRIENDS OF PLUM AND PILOT ISLANDS
P.O. Box 61, Washington Island, WI 54246 plumandpilot.org 262-613-4680
GIBRALTAR HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION HISTORY CENTER 4167 Hwy 42, Fish Creek, WI 54211 historicnoble.org 920-898-2091
HORSESHOE BAY FARMS 7212 Horseshoe Bay Rd, Egg Harbor, WI 54209 horseshoebayfarms.org 920-868-3968
JACKSONPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY 6144 Hwy 57, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 Jacksonporthistoricalsociety.org 920-493-1511
LIBERTY GROVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 11831 Hwy 42, Ellison Bay, WI 54210 libertygrovehistorical.org 920-680-1942
SEVASTOPOL HISTORICAL SOCIETY 4528 Hwy 57, Sturgeon Bay WI 54235 920-493-4522
SISTER BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 10310 Fieldcrest Rd, Sister Bay, WI 54234 sisterbayhistory.org 920-854-7680
STURGEON BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION P.O. Box 827, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 sturgeonbayhistoricalsociety.org doorcountygranary.org 920-278-2301
WASHINGTON ISLAND ARCHIVES 910 Main Road, Washington Island, WI 54246
washingtonisland-wi.gov/museums 920-847-3072
WASHINGTON ISLAND TOWN MUSEUMS
washingtonisland-wi.gov/museums
Jackson Harbor Maritime Museum
Jackson Harbor Road, Washington Island, WI 54246
Jacobsens Museum
Little Lake Road, Washington Island, WI 54246
A father and son stop to check out one of Baileys Harbor’s History Along the Way displays. FILE
Preserving our history is rarely easy, even if it seems obvious in hindsight. Sturgeon Bay’s Steel Bridge is now part of the city’s iconography, but 20 years ago the state and city was poised to take it down. In that case some strong individuals stepped up to galvanize support for community history. Our local historical societies have each done the same to save some of our most recognizable structures over the years, and continue to advocate for preservation today.
Here are 8 sites, one Bookmobile and one archive collection that took work to save for the next generation –10 sites that wouldn’t be here without a fight.
St. Mary of the Snows
Brussels
In the heart of southern Door County is the historic campus of St. Mary of the Snows Church – now home to the Belgian Heritage Center – a symbol of resilience, heritage, and community initiative. The effort to preserve this site, nestled in the Namur National Landmark Historic District, was not just about saving a building. It was about honoring the rich legacy of the Belgian immigrants who helped shape the region.
Founded in the 1860s by Walloon-speaking Belgian settlers, the St. Mary of the Snows parish grew alongside a unique cultural enclave. The area boasts the highest rural concentration of Belgian descendants in the U.S., and includes towns named after their homeland—Brussels, Namur, Rosiere—as well as expressions of hardship, like Misiere (“misery”). The 1893 brick church served as spiritual and communal anchors for generations. By 2001, however, the church was closed as a Catholic parish, and its future became uncertain. The Norbertine Order which had historic ties to the site – it was their first American home – briefly considered creating a museum there but backed out due to state highway bypass plans. The property faced possible sale or even demolition. That turning point galvanized a local group of heritage advocates, recalled Bill Chaudoir who has been involved with the Belgian Heritage Center from the beginning. The effort was led by several people from the community,
including then-President of the Door County Historical Society, George Evenson, and cultural geographer, Dr. William Laatsch who had extensively studied the area’s Belgian influence.
Chaudoir recalled that the parish board said, “Either get a commitment or we demolish it. That sparked people to act.” The initial goal was to raise $20,000. In just weeks, over $40,000 was pledged, testimony to the deep roots and passion of descendants.
The Belgian Heritage Center was legally incorporated in 2010, and that August, the group officially took title of the property for a symbolic one dollar. Since then, the site has evolved into a cultural hub with curated exhibits, programs, and community events, like the traditional Kermiss.
BHC also honors preservation of the settlement area’s unique brick farmhouses, roadside chapels, and summer kitchens. It fosters efforts to preserve and document Walloon language that is still spoken by some descendants of the earliest Belgians who settled the area in the mid-1800s
In saving St. Mary of the Snows, the community preserved more than walls and stained glass. They sparked a recognition of Northeast Wisconsin’s Belgian contributions and cemented a place for their descendants to gather, learn, and remember. Thanks to
The Jacobsens Museum
Washington Island
Last winter Jacobsens Museum was the host site for an intern as part of Recollection Wisconsin’s Digitization Initiative. A program of WiLS (formally Wisconsin Library Services), Recollection Wisconsin’s mission is to connect ‘cultural heritage institutions statewide to preserve,
promote, and facilitate digital access.’ Put simply, this project will mean that people all over the US and beyond will be able to see what makes the Jacobsens Museum collection so intriguing and, more importantly, begins the process of cataloguing this treasure filled Island institution.
It’s a valuable opportunity to photograph and scan items, add a description, upload and, eventually, make them available online.
The intern assigned has a personal connection. Jaime Jorns, granddaughter of Jeannie Hutchins (1933-2024), a past director of the museum, was looking for an internship for her Library Sciences graduate degree. Jaime had signed up with Recollection Wisconsin and was a natural fit for
The Bookmobile
Door County
Seventy-three years after it first took to the road – and 34 since it last broke down – the original Door County Bookmobile made a comeback in Sawyer, and the
Collection
the Jacobsens project, having visited the museum since childhood in addition to her family history contained there.
As anybody who has visited Jacobsens Museum knows it is jam packed with stuff and the decision was made to concentrate on objects that were likely to have been displayed early on when Jens Jacobsen, the founder, himself was managing the museum. It opened in 1931 and, as far as is known, Jens was closely involved from then, up until a year before he died in 1952. It is also understood that Ralph Jacobsen, one of Jens’ three sons, helped construct the museum building and ran it for a time after his father’s death until he was unable to continue and himself died in 1965.
Some of the items included in this project have been boat models and scrollwork made by Jens, visitor books, photos and documents about the Jacobsen family, and other people and places of the Island.
Jacobsens Museum, and its collection, is a treasure of Washington Island, one which we wish to preserve to be seen in reality and, soon, virtually this year and beyond.
persistence of the Egg Harbor Historical Society (EHHS) board members who spearheaded the efforts to save and restore a piece of educational, cultural and community history.
“It’s about preserving a part of Door County history, but just as important, it’s about getting books in children’s hands,” Bertschinger said.
The bookmobile began its journey in 1950, when the Wisconsin Free Library Commission developed the Door-Kewaunee Regional Library Demonstration, a two-year experiment that aimed to make libraries more accessible in rural areas.
The Bookmobile was part of this experiment, but it lived well past its intended two years. It was state funded until 1952, at which point Door County
residents voted to keep funding it with tax dollars.
It toured the peninsula until it broke down in 1989 and was later purchased by John Enigl, a historian who used the truck for storing his book collection on his Egg Harbor property. And that’s where it stayed until 2014, when the EHHS purchased it with the intention to restore it.
For years the society kept the dream alive, slowly inching it forward until enlisting the help of Sawyer and Bertschinger to bring their energy to the effort. It is back on the road this summer, bringing books to every school in the county and rekindling memories of a time when the Bookmobile brought the world to rural Door County.
Jaime discovered this signature and drawing in one of the Jacobsens visitor books. Dick Calkins (1894-1962) was a well-known graphic artist who drew the comic strip Buck Rogers from 1929 until 1947.
Granary The Door County
Sturgeon Bay
History is worth fighting for, and that was never proven so well as when the Door County Granary opened its doors to the public in Sturgeon Bay’s West Waterfront this spring.
The fight is fresh and well-told. The Teweles and Brandeis Grain Elevator was originally slated as a centerpiece of west side development, until it abruptly wasn’t. A raze order was issued to make way for something new,
but preservationists weren’t going to let it fall easily. They bought the structure, moved it across the bridge to the east side to save it from the wrecking ball, then moved it back across the bridge to its original footprint when its future was (mostly) secured.
Out of the battle rose the origins of the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society, which laid the foundation for another effort to save Potawatomi Tower. And in 2024, the Granary rose again, a testament to the agricultural
history and traditions of the peninsula. Built in 1901, its presence on the westside waterfront tells a story that weaves together outlying farms, Great Lakes shipping, the Ahnapee and Western Railway, and the Shipping Canal – many of the pieces that have made Door County the unique place it is today.
Visitors can now visit the site, look up into the towering grain elevators, and learn about this vital era in the county’s history.
Liberty Grove and Grand View Preserve Historical Society
Ellison Bay
It’s a familiar story on the peninsula. A vista long thought of as permanent suddenly at risk, spurring an outcry that teaches us what it meant to so many.
But few views are as aweinspiring as the one that greets you each time you drive into Ellison Bay. It’s little wonder that the property was pegged for a 44-unit condominium development.
But in 2012, the formerly private overlook was made public as a Door County Land Trust property thanks to three years of fundraising, grantwriting, and advocacy in a partnership between the Land Trust, the Town of Liberty Grove, and the Liberty Grove Historical Society.
From atop the Niagara Escarpment at the Ellison Bay Hill one can see the expansive shoreline, two county parks, Washington Island and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Next door is the Liberty Grove Historical Society Campus on the grounds of what was once the JohnsonHanson Farm. This property includes the Hanson home, barn, and several historic buildings and artifacts. Thanks to the work of many, generations to come can visit these grounds, play in the lawn, and take a journey back to the founding days of the county and truly imagine what it felt to settle in this place.
The
Toft House
Baileys Harbor
It’s 1868, and a massive fire has destroyed most of the structures in Baileys Harbor. Miles Carrington, an early Baileys Harbor settler, built a temporary home in the New England salt-box style. Designed for two families, the house had a kitchen and parlor downstairs, and one bedroom upstairs separated by a common stairwell. The new house was located just north of the Carrington’s corner property, on what is now Hwy 57 and Bluff Road. William Toft purchased the small home in 1900 for $400, on the advice of his father, Thomas Toft, who had purchased the Carrington corner property in 1892. William was known for serving at the Baileys Harbor lifesaving station, and later when he was postmaster of Baileys Harbor from 1918 – 1939, the northside front room of the Toft house became the post office. William’s younger sister Emma, known for helping to found the Ridges Sanctuary, was a regular occupant of the home,
Alexander Noble House
Fish Creek
In the mid-1990s, developers had their eye on the prime real estate parcel at the bottom of the Fish Creek Hill, where the Alexander Noble House still stands today. Fortunately town leaders and residents had something other than business in mind for the home that was built in 1875.
Virginia Kinsey had founded the Gibraltar Historical Association in 1984 and when the last occupant of the house, Gertrude Howe, died in 1995, Kinsey marshaled the troops to save the building that was falling into disrepair.
When the caretakers of the Noble estate agreed that the land and house should be preserved, the Historical
Association established the Noble Historic Square Fund. They raised two-thirds of the total cost of $500,000 and the Town of Gibraltar raised the rest. The town owned it and the GHA operated it. The first thing they did was to protect it – the Noble House was registered with both the Wisconsin and the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
The unwavering dedication of GHA leaders and the overwhelming support from the community, who recognized the house’s importance, have been instrumental in its preservation. Called the Queen of the Peninsula, hours upon hours of work were needed to restore the structure.
Barely altered, it contained
spending the winter months there for nearly her entire adult life.
Following Emma’s death in 1982, the Toft house was transformed by the Rosbergs into a gift shop called the Red Geranium. They restored the original wood floors and rebuilt the stairway for safety purposes. Kathy and Walter Vail purchased the home in 1994, continuing the gift shop tradition.
In 2013, through the advocacy of Town Supervisor Roberta Thelen, the residents of the Town of Baileys Harbor voted to purchase the property. Since that time the Toft House has served as a tourist information center which also offers local history displays.
Now at over 150 years old, it is hoped that the collaboration between the Town of Baileys Harbor, the Baileys Harbor Community Association and Historical Society will continue to preserve the Toft House as a community centerpiece among numerous other historic buildings which help make Baileys Harbor the classic destination it is today.
records dating back to Fish Creek’s beginnings. Noble was a founding father; the town blacksmith, a postmaster, and an official who served on local and county governmental boards.
Preservation is the activity or process of keeping something valued alive, intact, and free from damage or decay. Saving a building is far more than preserving it; it must be restored and funded to ensure the outcome can be cherished for generations. The result is a historical landmark and a time stamp that takes us back to its beginnings. The Alexander Noble House, a significant historical landmark and cherished by generations, is just that place, 150 years after it was built.
The Little Sister Barn
Sister Bay
When the 100-year-old Little Sister Resort was sold in 2020, its 24 buildings were slated for demolition, including the Little Sister Barn.
The property and the buildings had a storied beginning. In 1870, Norwegian immigrant Gunnar Endreson purchased 108 acres of wild timber land along the shores of Little Sister Bay. Grant Anderson, one of the sons of Gunnar and his wife Emma, bought the property and set up a commercial fishing business while continuing to work the farm. In 1918, Grant took advantage of the budding tourist industry and started a resort business by lodging and feeding a few guests at their farmhouse. The following year, the Little Sister Barn was built to help support the farm and resort.
The sale of the historic property in 2020 marked the beginning of a remarkable preservation effort.
Concerned the structure could end in a landfill, a small group formed and saw two possibilities: the use of the Little Sister Barn by the Sister Bay Historical Society and the preservation of some of the resort cabins to meet the chronic need for employee housing.
The Historical Society had planned to build a new barn on its 6-acre museum property, Corner of the Past, to expand exhibit and event space. The availability of the Little Sister Barn caused the Society to shift its plans and form a fundraising team to move the Little Sister Barn and convert it to a year-round History Center.
A grassroots fundraising effort has included a wide variety of supporters – locals who fondly remembered the resort and the barn dances that had taken place there; visitors from outside Door County; and the Village of Sister Bay itself.
Since the Barn was moved to the Corner of the Past, additional fundraising – including a grant from Destination Door County’s Community Investment Fund – has helped secure the Barn on a new foundation and weatherize it in preparation for its next phase, the repurposing of the interior.
Plans for the historic structure include retaining a portion of the rustic interior, while adding a more contemporary, climate-controlled space for educational programs, community events, historic exhibits, and digital archives. The fundraising for this next phase is now under way.
“The Little Sister Barn project has been an amazing example of a community stepping up to preserve and honor history,” said John Lijewski, Sister Bay Historical Society board president. “It takes a village to pull off something this extraordinary! We’re confident that the result will be a facility that provides long-lasting benefits to all of Door County.”
For more information about the project, including a video presentation, contact the Sister Bay Historical Society at sisterbayhistoricalsociety@ gmail.com.
Potawatomi Tower
Sturgeon Bay
The 75-foot tall Potawatomi State Park Observation Tower, built in 1931, was the first purpose-built recreation tower in a Wisconsin State Park. Designed by prominent architect W.F. Stevens, the tower was built with features distinct from its fire tower antecedents. The Potawatomi Tower’s construction was financed by an organization known as the Sawyer Commercial Club, which promoted economic development in the Village of Sawyer (the area’s original name before it was annexed by the City of Sturgeon Bay).
In December of 2017, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources closed Potawatomi Tower based on findings of significant wood decay, fresh off the heels of the closure of Eagle Tower in Peninsula State Park. Its fate appeared sealed until members of the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society stepped up to advocate for a different solution.
The Historical Society felt the DNR’s study was limited to damage and deterioration, and did not provide restoration alternatives to determine the feasibility of saving it.
In 2018, the society retained Wood Research Development out of Oregon to perform a new study – this time
including alternatives for restoration. Over the next several years the DNR slated the tower to be torn down but preservation advocates continued to push for the DNR to stabilize the structure in place.
In 2023, local government officials lobbied for emergency funding to stabilize the structure and in 2024, contracted Wood Research Development to rehabilitate the tower. In April of 2025, the tower was officially saved and reopened to the public.
Visitors may now once again climb the stairs to the top for spectacular views of the Bay of Green Bay, the Bay of Sturgeon Bay, and Sawyer Harbor.
Ephraim’s Pioneer Schoolhouse
Ephriam
The year is 1949. The Village of Ephraim probably doesn’t know it, but it’s at a crossroads. Its board of trustees has voted to dispose of the one-room Pioneer Schoolhouse built in 1880. Helen Hoeppner Sohns taught at the schoolhouse, and she is not ready to say goodbye.
Sohns believes that losing the schoolhouse means losing an important piece of village history. So she enlists the help of summer resident Warren Davis. He and others quickly raise $2,800, purchase the property and save the schoolhouse.
But the Pioneer Schoolhouse isn’t the only building on the chopping block. The desire to save more buildings leads to the formation of the
Ephraim Foundation, and a legacy of historic preservation begins.
Seventy-six years later, the Ephraim Historical Foundation and its members remain committed to preserve, sustain, and share the history, culture, and beauty of Ephraim. Today, Ephraim is a sight to behold, a regular on lists of America’s most picturesque, quaint, or historic small towns. And it’s all because someone stood up for history 75 years ago.
featured historical sites
Below you’ll find expanded information about the sites listed on the Heritage Trail Map on the preceding pages. Numbers correspond to each location’s place on the map.
(1) Jacobsens Museum
2150 Little Lake Road, Washington Island
Constructed in 1931 by Jens Jacobsen, this vertical cedar log museum contains hand carved ship models, Danish crafts, and other exhibits that tell the history of Washington Island.
(2) Jackson Harbor Maritime Museum
Jackson Harbor Road, Washington Island
Established in 1978, this collection of buildings located on the site of an original Washington Island fishing community tell the story of islanders and their relationship with the water surrounding them.
(3) Plum Island
(4) Death’s Door Maritime Museum
12724 West Wisconsin Bay Road
The Death’s Door Maritime Museum traces the area’s commercial fishing tradition and features a fishing boat, shipwreck and scuba diving exhibits and information on Death’s Door passage.
(5) Liberty Grove Historical Society Museum
11831 Highway 42, Ellison Bay
Enjoy the iconic view from the top of the hill as you browse the museum grounds of the former Johnson-Hanson Century Farm overlooking beautiful Ellison Bay. Walking paths lead visitors from the Circle of Honor to the Log House all while taking in a collection of carefully maintained historic structures and features of Liberty Grove.
(6) Sister Bay Historical Society
10310 Fieldcrest Road, Sister Bay
Operated by the Sister Bay Historical Society, Corner of the Past includes the Old Anderson House Museum plus 15 other historical buildings. The machine shed photo gallery features unique images dating back to pioneer settlers.
(7) Anderson Barn Museum and Svalhus Research Library
3060 Anderson Lane, Ephraim
Founded in 1949, the Ephraim Historical Foundation is dedicated to preserving, sustaining and sharing the history, culture and beauty of Ephraim. The Historical Foundation operates a wide variety of historic attractions in Ephraim across six historic buildings. The Anderson Barn Museum is home to an annual feature exhibition and the starting point for all Ephraim Historical Society led walking and tram tours.
(8) Anderson Store Museum
3081 Anderson Lane, Ephraim
Opened in 1858, The Anderson Store was owned and operated by the same family for 100 years. In 1958, the property was taken over by the Ephraim Historical Foundation. Visitors can step back in time and see how the store would have looked while still in operation.
(9) Pioneer Schoolhouse Museum and Goodlestone Cabin
9998 Moravia Street, Ephraim
The Pioneer Schoolhouse was built in 1880 and is now set up as it would have looked in 1939.The Goodletson Cabin was built around 1855 on Eagle Island (present day Horseshoe Island) by Norwegian immigrant Thomas Goodletson and his family. It was later skidded across the ice in the 1860s to the foot of the bay.
(10) The Iverson House
9966 Moravia St, Ephraim
The oldest frame home in Door County, built in 1853. Reverend Andrew Iverson and members of his Moravian congregation who founded Ephraim constructed this home and held early
church gatherings in a north bedroom before the church was completed.
(11) Cana Island Lighthouse
8800 East Cana Island Road Baileys Harbor
Ride a hay wagon over the causeway to explore the island, including the 89-foot-tall tower, the original home of the lighthouse keeper and his family, and the oil house where fuel for the light was stored. Climb the 97 steps of the tower’s spiral staircase for a stunning view from the gallery deck.
(12) The Ridges Sanctuary
8166 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor
Hike the trails and boardwalk through the ridges and swales of Wisconsin’s first land trust for a glimpse at thousands of years of the history of the Lake Michigan shoreline.
(13) Toft House
8061 Highway 57 Baileys Harbor
The shared home of the Baileys Harbor Historical Society and the Baileys Harbor Community Association, the historic Toft House features displays detailing Baileys Harbor’s past, as well as the Baileys Harbor Community Association information center.
(14) Baileys Harbor History Along The Way
Stroll the sidewalks of Baileys Harbor traveling back and forth through time while viewing groupings of historic images in 19 displays at 13 locations presenting over 115 historic images. Available for viewing May through October. Visit www. historyalongtheway.com for the map.
(15) Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
10249 Shore Rd, Fish Creek
Perched atop a 76-foot limestone bluff overlooking the waters of Green Bay, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse has stood as a steadfast beacon since 1868. Built to guide schooners and steamboats through the Strawberry Channel, this historic lighthouse played a vital role in Door County’s maritime history. Today, it welcomes visitors as a museum,
The Anderson Store Museum in Ephraim. BRETT KOSMIDER
offering a rare glimpse into 19th-century lighthouse life. Step inside to explore rooms furnished with original artifacts and personal belongings of the keeper’s family – each piece telling stories of resilience, dedication, and life on the bluff.
(16) Alexander Noble House Museum
4167 Main Street, Fish Creek
The oldest existing frame home in Fish Creek.This Greek Revival farmhouse built in 1875 and lived in by three generations of the Noble family. Come enjoy a tour of the 10-room home with many original furnishings. This museum is a must-see listed on the National & State Register of Historic Places. Celebrating its 150th Anniversary.
(17) Gibraltar’s Old Town Hall
4176 Maple St, Fish Creek
Gibraltar’s Old Town Hall, the start of a docent lead walking tour around Fish Creek.
(18) Cupola House
7836 Hwy 42, Egg Harbor
The Cupola House is a historic landmark building in Egg Harbor built in 1872.
(19) Egg Harbor Historical Society
Egg Harbor Village Library History Center
7845 Church St, Egg Harbor
(20) Door County Bookmobile
Locations vary
(21) Horseshoe Bay Farms
7212 Horseshoe Bay Rd., Egg Harbor
In the 1910s the farm was the largest employer in Door County and one of the most innovative dairy operations in the state. It’s now owned by a nonprofit working to rehabilitate the barns and grounds. Horseshoe Bay Farms is also now home to the newly restored and transformed Door County Bookmobile.
(22) Lawrence University’s Boynton Chapel at Björklunden
7590 Boynton Lane, Baileys Harbor. Handcrafted by Winifred and Donald Boynton (1939-1947) as a sanctuary of peace, the chapel at Lawrence University’s Björklunden campus reflects a medieval Norwegian stave church, featuring wood carvings and 41 frescoes. Open for docent-led tours mid-June through August.
(23) Heritage Village
2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay
between 1890 and 1910. Explore a schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, general store, and more—each offering insight into the daily lives of the peninsula’s early settlers. On select days, visitors can experience live demonstrations by a blacksmith, schoolmarm, or shopkeeper, bringing history to life in an engaging, hands-on way.
Each holiday season the Christkindlmarkt at Corner of the Past Museum in Sister Bay recreates a holiday scene amongs the historic cottages, barns and artifacts of the Sister Bay Historical Society.
RACHEL LUKES
(26) Door County Maritime Museum
(24) Door County Museum & Archives
18 North 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
The Door County Historical Museum has educated locals and visitors alike about the history of the Door Peninsula since 1939. The Museum features a wide variety of artifacts and exhibits, including vintage fire trucks, a historic jail cell and hearse, and the spectacular Seasons of Life wildlife diorama. Open year ‘round and free to the public, the Museum & Archives are cornerstones of the Door County Community.
(25) Door County Granary
92 E. Locust St. Sturgeon Bay
Originally built in 1901, the Teweles and Brandeis Grain Elevator is the last vestige of a busy, agriculturally-oriented, commercial wharf on the west-waterfront of Sturgeon Bay. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, it has been rehabilitated and repurposed as the Door County Granary, paying homage to Door County’s agricultural heritage as a living museum, community pavilion, and historic landmark.
120 North Madison Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
Located on Sturgeon Bay’s westwaterfront, the Door County Maritime Museum showcases the area’s rich maritime roots through guided tours, exhibits, artifacts, presentations and is now home to the Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower.
(27) Tugboat John Purves
120 North Madison Avenue, Sturgeon Bay Enjoy an all-access, 40-minute guided tour of the John Purves, an immaculately restored 1919 tugboat. Explore the entire 149-foot tug, from her engine room to crew cabins, galley and wheelhouse, and get a feel for the daily life of her hardworking 13-man crew. Tug tours are only available as guided tours. Tours are offered May-October, at 10:30am, 11:45am, 1:15pm and 2:30pm – with docent availability.
(28) Belgian Heritage Center
1255 County Road DK, Brussels
The Belgian Heritage Center tells the story of the Belgian settlement in Wisconsin and works to preserve unique elements of Belgian culture, architecture and the Walloon language. Also on the campus is a 1894 schoolhouse and convent, a typical Belgian roadside chapel, and historic St. Mary of the Snows Cemetery.
The Tug John Purves is available for tours at the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay. COURTESY OF THE DOOR COUNTY MARITIME MUSEUM
History for the Kids
Tower Tour
Potawatomi Tower
Eagle Tower
Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower
Children love the view from atop a tower, and each of these three offer their own unique journey to the top. Climb the steps to the top of the recently reopened Potawatomi Tower. Hike the ramp through the tree canopy at Eagle Tower’s new version (which replaced the old Eagle Tower in the same spot). Or take a ride to the top of the 10-story Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower at the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, where the view includes the giant lakers at the shipyard, the remnants of the Leathem and Smith Quarry, the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, Door County Granary, the Steel Bridge and Potawatomi State Park.
Thordarson Boathouse
Rock Island State Park
One of the peninsula’s most unique structures is as awe-inspiring for kids to explore as it is for adults. Of course, there’s the bonus of taking a small ferry to get to it, but inside kids love to explore the great hall before hiking across the island to the beach or up the trail to the Pottawatomie Lighthouse.
Historical museums don’t always grab the attention of little ones, but we’ve tested many of our historical sites with toddlers and young children in tow, and here are a few that kids will love as much as you.
Heritage Village
Door County Historical Society, Sturgeon Bay
Heritage Village offers kids a chance to explore history in a hands-on, memorable way. Instead of sitting in a classroom, children step into a real one-room schoolhouse, try writing on slate boards, and see what learning was like over 100 years ago. They can watch a blacksmith shape metal using fire and tools, or chat with a shopkeeper about the kinds of items people used to buy.
The Village includes eight historic buildings that tell the story of early life in Door County. Kids move from place to place, learning how families cooked, cleaned, worked, and played in a time before electricity or running water. Live demonstrations bring each space to life, making history something they can see, hear, and touch.
Wide paths, open spaces, and garden areas give families room to explore at their own pace. Whether it’s ringing the school bell, watching sparks fly in the blacksmith shop, or spotting something unusual in the general store, there’s always something new to discover.
Heritage Village makes history feel real. It’s a fun, active way for children to connect with the past while enjoying a day of exploration, questions, and discovery.
Baileys Harbor
Part of the joy is getting there, either walking or riding a tractor across the causeway. Once you land on the grounds of this often-photographed lighthouse, kids can explore the shoreline or climb to the top of the lighthouse tower for a view of the lake.
The Farm Institute
Part of family traditions since it opened in 1965, kids can get a glimpse of life on the farm as it was for generations. See farm animals in natural settings, feed goats, hold chicks and get up close with dozens of animals. Check out pioneer log buildings, farm tools and implements, gardens and field crops. Enjoy nature trails and exhibits at this living museum of rural America.
Ephraim Fire House Museum
Ephraim
Stop by this tiny two-stall firehouse tucked into the hillside in Ephraim. Don’t look for an open sign, just look for Scotty Weborg standing and waving in front of the open doors. Children can hop aboard old fire trucks, get a fire hat and make a new best friend they’ll soon be looking for every time you drive through Ephraim.
Explore exhibits in the Nature Center and take on kids activities in the educational room, but for wide-eyed wonder head out on the boardwalk. It’s not uncommon to spot deer a few strides off the path, hear the songs of birds and explore the woods of this incredible preserve. Check out the Range Lights and primitive cabins while learning a bit about the natural forces that created the famous ridges and swales over centuries.
Cana Island Lighthouse
The Ridges Sanctuary
Baileys Harbor
tours
ALEXANDER NOBLE HOUSE MUSEUM
Docent-Led Tours
4167 Main Street Fish Creek historicnoble.org
Tuesday - Sundays, 10 - 3 pm, beginning June 17
Visit the oldest existing frame home in Fish Creek, charmingly restored and containing many of the Noble family’s original furnishings and artifacts.
Built in 1875, the Noble House was home to three generations of the Alexander Noble Family. It is an authentic example of Greek Revival farmhouse architecture. Enjoy a tour of the 10-room home and experience a portrayal of domestic life in Door County at the turn of the century. This year features a special exhibit to mark the 150th anniversary of the Alexander Noble House.
BAILEYS HARBOR RANGE LIGHTS TOURS
The Ridges Sanctuary, 8166 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor ridgessanctuary.org
10 am - 3 pm Daily, Wednesdays 11 am - 2 pm
Tour the Upper Range Light, restored to the period of the Range Light Keepers! Learn about the history of the Range Light buildings, the keepers who inhabited the house, and how the lights work as a critical tool for navigational aid.
BOYNTON CHAPEL TOURS
7590 Boynton Lane, Baileys Harbor lawrence.edu/bjorklunden/ boynton-chapel
Monday, June 23, 1-4 pm and Wednesday, June 25, 1-4 pm
HISTORY DAYS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
MONDAY, JUNE 16
HISTORY DAYS KICKOFF EVENT
Belgian Heritage Center 1255 County Road DK, Brussels 9 am.
This year’s theme is preservation, and the event will bring together historical organizations from across the county for a morning of community, learning, and celebration.
The morning begins with a presentation by Destination Door County introducing the new Heritage Trail Pass app, a digital tool designed to help users explore local museums and history-rich sites. Participants can earn rewards
through app engagement, encouraging deeper exploration of Door County’s cultural heritage.
Guests will also hear brief updates from historical organizations, including BHC, on their ongoing preservation projects. Attendees are invited to explore the BHC campus, view curated exhibits, and connect with fellow history enthusiasts. This event is free and open to the public. belgianheritagecenter.org
DEEP DIVE INTO THE MARITIME MUSEUM COLLECTION
Door County Maritime Museum
120 North Madison Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin 1 pm.
Join Collections Coordinator
Brennan Christianson as he delves into the collection of the museum. See the over 6,000 digitized photographs,along with postcards, documentation, and artifacts found in the collection. dcmm.org
25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Liberty Grove Historical Society 11831 Hwy 42, Ellison Bay 7 pm.
Hear the many stories from those who were there when the organization was formed and enjoy a timeline photo presentation with your slice of celebratory cake in the museum barn. libertygrovehistorical.org
Visit the stave chapel at Björklunden and hear about how this beautiful sanctuary for peace was handcrafted by Winifred and Donald Boynton between 1939 and 1947 on the grounds of their summer residence. The Michelsens
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18
THE HEINS CREEK STORY
Baileys Harbor Historical Society
Baileys Harbor Town Hall, 2392 Hwy F, Baileys Harbor 7 pm
Through photos, Marilyn Hein will take you on a walk along the trail – through the drifting sand dunes, the cool shade of the forest, and to the winding creek – while sharing the unfolding story of Heins Creek. The story reveals how everything that happened in the past affects how we live in the present. Free. baileysharborhistory.org
VINTAGE RECORD NIGHT ON THE WATERFRONT
Sturgeon Bay Historical Society
Door County Granary, 72 East Locust Court, Sturgeon Bay 5:30-7 pm.
The Sturgeon Bay Historical Society celebrates the Door County Heritage Alliance’s History Days with Vintage Record Night On the Waterfront. DJ David Watkins will be spinning vintage vinyl at the Door County Granary. Enjoy Early Country Heroes (fiddle, bluegrass from 1920s-1930s) in this historic setting. sturgeonbayhistoricalsociety. org
bar on Kangaroo Lake is now the home of Coyote Roadhouse. COURTESY OF THE BAILEYS HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Six women show off their blades during the Winter Carnival of 1938. The carnival included skating and hockey on the ice in Ephraim, and ski jumping, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing in Peninsula State Park. COURTESY OF THE JAMES KEMP COLLECTION. KEMP WAS THE DISTRICT RECREATIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION BY MARILYN RENARD
Door County Library
107 S 4th Ave. Sturgeon Bay 10 am.
Historic preservation is one of three core missions of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). As a primary area of focus, the organization provides funding for and member engagement in the preservation and protection of historic sites, records and artifacts. Meredith Renard of the Jean Nicolet Chapter of NSDAR will review some of the DAR’s key efforts throughout the country, including past and present projects in Wisconsin. We will also share a few stories about children of American Revolutionary War patriots who chose Door County as their home in the 1800s and how descendants of the patriots of nearly 250 years ago continue to serve our country and community. doorcountylibrary. org
THURSDAY,
JUNE 19
SLAVE NO MORE: PETER CUSTIS AND THE MAKING OF A CITIZEN
Door County Museum
18 North 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay 1 pm.
Peter Custis was born into slavery on the Custis estate in Virginia, a family with ties to Martha Washington. After the Civil War he journeyed north in search of a new beginning, landing in Sturgeon Bay where he laid down roots. In Door County, his life unfolded with both hardship and hope –marked by loss, but also by quiet resilience. Custis found belonging in the embrace of a community that became his own.
PRESERVING THE ROADSIDE CHAPEL TRADITION
Belgian Heritage Center 1255 County Road DK, Brussels 1-3 pm.
Join local historian Barb (Englebert) Chisholm as she
presents “Preserving the Roadside Chapel Tradition.” This engaging talk will highlight the origin and evolution of roadside chapels—votive buildings unique to the Belgian settlements of northeast Wisconsin. Chisholm will share the stories behind these structures and how this cultural tradition has been kept alive through generations. Following the presentation, guests may participate in a guided tour of the Belgian Heritage Center or visit nearby chapels, where BHC docents will be on hand to provide insight into both historic and modern examples of these cherished landmarks. belgianheritagecenter.org
SISTER BAY HISTORY THROUGH
ITS
POSTCARDS
Anderson House Museum and Corner of the Past 10310 Fieldcrest Rd., Sister Bay 7 pm.
Terry Wolf dives into the postcards of Sister Bay residents not just as time capsules of the village, but as time capsules of rural life in
chapel, modeled after the Garmo stave church at Maihaugen in Lillehammer, Norway, was featured in the New York Times’ “36-Hours in Door County” and on the cover of the 2024 Destination Door County official summer guide.
DOOR COUNTY BOOKMOBILE 7860 Hwy 42, Egg Harbor bookmobiledoorcounty.org
Check for special events around the peninsula where you can walk through the original Door County Bookmobile and get a glimpse of the vehicle that brought the world to rural parts of the peninsula for decades.
DOOR COUNTY GRANARY
72 East Locust Street, Sturgeon Bay doorcountygranary.org
Wednesdays from 10 am - 7 pm, and Thursday -Sunday from 10 am - 3 pm.
an era when postcards were a means for vital communication. His presentation not only looks at the pictures on the cards, but the messages residents sent on the backs of them. sisterbayhistory.org
LAKE
TO TABLE FISH
BOIL FUNDRAISER
Liberty Grove Historical Society 11831 Hwy 42, Ellison Bay 4-8 pm.
A long-time honored Northern Door tradition held in the Museum Barn. Visit the Liberty Grove Historical Society website’s event page for link to RSVP time preference and prepayment. libertygrovehistorical.org
REPAIRING OLD BOOKS
Door County Library
107 S 4th Ave. Sturgeon Bay 10 am.
The goal of this workshop is to help attendees care for and perform basic repairs on their beloved books. Beyond the session, resources will be provided for further learning if attendees are interested in learning more. doorcountylibrary.org
Explore this remarkable National Historic Site, beautifully situated on the waterfront in the heart of Sturgeon Bay. Step inside this cathedral-like agricultural landmark and discover how grain elevators revolutionized the food industry –helping transform America into the world’s breadbasket. Built in 1901 and originally operated by immigrants from Prague, the Granary has proudly stood on this site for nearly 125 years. It has served the community in many roles: as the Teweles & Brandeis Grain Elevator, later as the Door County Co-op, and today as a living museum and vibrant center for local events and activities.
EAGLE BLUFF LIGHTHOUSE TOURS
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, 10249 Shore Rd, Fish Creek doorcountyhistoricalsociety.org/ eagle-bluff-lighthouse/ 11 am - 3 pm.
$6. (DCHS members and military are free) Docent-led tour of Eagle Bluff lighthouse.
EGG HARBOR HISTORY CENTER
Kress Pavilion, 7845 Church Street, Egg Harbor eggharborhistory.org
10 am - 3 pm.
View videos and explore the history of Egg Harbor.
EPHRAIM HISTORICAL FOUNDATION HISTORY TRAM TOURS
9966 Moravia Street, Ephraim ephraim.org/history-tram-tours Daily at 10:30 am.
One of the most popular ways to experience Ephraim’s history! Guided by knowledgeable volunteers, History Tram Tours take visitors along picturesque Eagle Harbor to historic sites throughout the village. The open air tram is a great way to enjoy Door County’s beautiful weather and views. Tours accommodate up to 5 people and last approximately an hour.
FISH
CREEK AUDIO WALKING TOUR
Take a tour when the moment is right! When you see a blue tile number on a Fish Creek building, simply call 920.365.3711 and then enter the tile number followed by the “#” key. Call as often as you like.
FISH CREEK DOCENT-LED WALKING TOUR
4176 Maple Street, Fish Creek Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 am. Begins June 21.
A docent will share the history of Fish Creek’s numerous historic buildings, several near the water and on Main Street.
HERITAGE VILLAGE TOURS
Heritage Village, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay doorcountyhistoricalsociety.org/ heritage-village/ 11am - 4pm.
Admission is $6 and $3 for access to all buildings
FRIDAY, JUNE 20
THROUGH WAVES AND GALES COME
FISHERMAN’S TALES
Kress Pavilion
7845 Church St, Egg Harbor 7 pm.
Through Waves and Gales Come Fisherman’s Tales is a joint program with the Egg Harbor Historical Society held at the Kress Pavilion, Egg Harbor. Washington Island native, author, poet, photographer, re-enactor and 18th-century tailer Trygvie Jensen will read from his second book “Through Waves and Gales
Come Fisherman’s Tales” sharing some of his favorite stories shared with him by the local commercial fishermen and women. “It is their story of a life on the lake that was only sometimes shared amongst their peers.” libertygrove historical.org
SATURDAY, JUNE 21
MUSEUM BUILDINGS OPENING DAY
Liberty Grove Historical Society 11831 Hwy 42, Ellison Bay 10 am - 4 pm.
The Greater Escarpment Organization of Door County (GEO-DC), will host A Discussion on Gifts with Larry
Madden in the Museum Barn. This presentation explores the historical significance of Mahnomen (wild rice) and tobacco to the Great Lakes Basin Indigenous Peoples libertygrovehistorical.org
NIAGARA ESCARPMENT BOAT TOUR AND PRESENTATION FRIENDS OF PLUM AND PILOT ISLAND
Join Don Mikulic, with the Niagara Escarpment Resource Network (NERN) to learn about the globally significant unique features of the escarpment; natural, cultural, historical and environmental. After the presentation, take a hike to see where the escarpment is present on Plum Island and learn about the plants that are dependent on this rare geologic formation. Transportation from Gills Rock provided aboard FOPPI’s charter boat, The Shoreline. Register at plumandpilot.org/ niagara
Brass Bands formed in the Belgian communities would march people from church to the taverns for celebrations such as weddings and Kermiss. Wedding of Charles DeWitt and Laua Delforge wedding 1916 – brass band marched the wedding party and guests from St. Michael’s Church to Louis Vangindertalen Tavern in Misiere. COURTESY OF THE BELGIAN HERITAGE CENTER
LIVING HISTORY EVENT
Noble Square 4167 Main Street, Fish Creek
Door County Arachne Spinners Guild doing demonstrations. historicnoble.org/museum
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
URBAN HISTORIC HIKE WITH BOB JORIN AND KEVIN QUINN
72 E. Locust Ct.
Ice Age Trail Alliance and the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society 9 am – noon.
Meet on the pathway between the Door County Maritime Museum and the Door County Granary for a guided, 3.1-mile walk around Sturgeon Bay’s two downtown areas ending at the Door County Granary. Free.
HORSESHOE BAY FARM TOURS
7212 Horseshoe Bay Road, Egg Harbor horseshoebayfarms.org
Wednesday - Sunday at 11 am and 1 pm
Take an engaging, docent-led tour of the grounds and barns of this beautiful farm that was once one of the largest and most innovative dairy farms in Wisconsin. Learn about the pivotal role the farm played in the local economy, the preservation of a picturesque landscape, the lives of hundreds of boys and migrants who picked fruit in summer cherry camps, and much more.
POTTAWATOMIE LIGHTHOUSE GUIDED TOURS
Rock Island State Park dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/ rockisland/lighthouse 10 am - 4 pm.
Join Friends of Rock Island State Park docents for their 21st year giving guided tours of the historic Pottawatomie lighthouse tower and keeper’s quarters.
A vintage postcard portrays the approach to Potawatomi Observation Tower in Sturgeon Bay. Incidentally, the postcard has an error, as the name of the state park is spelled incorrectly.
Did you know? There are multiple spellings for Potawatomi, and two different spellings are used for Door County landmarks. On Rock Island, the name of the lighthouse is spelled Pottawatomie, but the state park and tower in Sturgoen Bay is spelled Potawatomi.
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in 1905, four years prior to the creation of Peninsula State Park. COURTESY OF THE DOOR COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Committed to Our Stories
At the Peninsula Pulse, we know that the news of today is built on the backs of Door County’s rich and fascinating history. We work hard to tell the stories of today, but also to unearth the stories of our past to inform today’s residents, decision-makers and to teach our readers about how we got to where we are.
We take great pride in the history of our own building in Baileys Harbor and have gone to great lengths to match the efforts of our neighbors in preserving our slice of history in the center of town.
We applaud the historical organizations and the people who give so much time, money and effort to gather and tell the stories of our past to inform our future.
These organizations have not only preserved dozens of structures and places, but thousands of photos and stories of lives lived, struggles to survive, and the fight to build our communities.
In telling these stories we often find that the things we take for granted today didn’t come easy, whether it was lives forged from our rocky shores, the struggle to create our iconic state parks, or the tragedies that dictated the location of our villages.
You can find these stories each week in the Peninsula Pulse, or browse our deep archives of historical features at doorcountypulse.com/community/ history/.
The offices of the Peninsula Pulse in the fall of 1974 when it was a commercial laundry (left), and today (right). OLD BILL TISHLER, NEW RACHEL LUKES