Located along Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin’s busy working waterfront, the Door County Maritime Museum showcases the area’s rich maritime roots. Hard-working fishermen, brave ship captains, skilled craftsmen, bold inventors and lonely lighthouse keepers are just some of the personalities you’ll discover in the galleries of the museum.
See how these maritime pioneers worked and what they made, and you’ll understand and appreciate your visit to Door County on a deeper, more engaged level.
In December 1956, Roen Steamship Company of Sturgeon Bay purchased the John Purves and put her to work on all five Great Lakes taking on towing and salvage jobs. The Purves was well known throughout the Great Lakes for her strength and towing capabilities. In fact, due to her might, she made a good living after the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, rescuing many a saltwater vessel that ran aground in the tricky channels of the Great Lakes.
MISSION STATEMENT
Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society, Inc. preserves Great Lakes maritime history, primarily focusing on Door County, Wisconsin, and provides interpretive and educational opportunities for current and future generations.
VISION STATEMENT
It is the vision of the Door County Maritime Museum to provide and perpetuate the best maritime museum experiences on the Great Lakes.
Featuring: Maritime Lighthouse Tower Project
For four decades, the Door County Maritime Museum has educated and entertained the public while working hard to preserve rich maritime history. Now, the museum is ready to take a major leap forward with an exciting new initiative: expanding its Sturgeon Bay facility with a spectacular, 11-story Maritime Lighthouse Tower filled with state-of-the-art exhibits for all ages.
Exhibit Details