Explore Our Exhibits

Boathouse Sidewalk Sale

The Door County Maritime Museum will host the annual Boathouse Sidewalk Sale on Thursday and Friday, July 30-31 and Saturday, August 1. The sale will take place along Madison Avenue, directly in front of the Sturgeon Bay Museum. The Boathouse Sidewalk Sale is happening on the same day that Destination Sturgeon Bay is holding their Sidewalk Sale on Third Avenue. All proceeds from the Boathouse Sidewalk Sale support the Museum’s operations and educational outreach programs.

Built for Battle: Sturgeon Bay Ships in WWII

2020 Door County Fall Lighthouse Festival

Festival weekends include land-based, boat, and adventure tours that together reach all 11 of the treasured lighthouses of Door County. Many of the tour excursions are unique to the Lighthouse Festival weekends, and provide visitors exclusive access to lighthouses not typically open to the public – Chambers Island Lighthouse and Sherwood Point Lighthouse.

#MaritimeHonors – A National Maritime Day Salute

For National Maritime Day (May 22), DCMM organized a maritime signal of appreciation for healthcare workers fighting against the pandemic. At Noon, the ship’s horn on the tug John Purves sounded a “Master’s Salute” to those working the front lines against COVID-19.

DCMM Matching Challenge

We are honored and humbled to announce that a member of our maritime community has stepped forward with a matching challenge for the Museum, which will match dollar-for-dollar all contributions to the DCMM Annual Fund during the month of May. The generous $50,000 matching challenge comes from Museum Board of Directors member John Baumgartner. He has pledged to personally match any contribution to the Museum during the month of May one-for-one, up to a total of $100,000.

Maritime Scavenger Hunts

Have some fun while learning with your (household) crew. Figure out the Scavenger Hunt clues and answers to questions.

Float Your Boat Challenge

Bring Door County’s maritime history and technology to life, even during this time of quarantine, and build boats for the new online competition! In partnership with the Peninsula Pulse newspaper, DCMM is launching the “Float Your Boat!” paper and cardboard boat-building challenge.

DCMM Online Museum Store

The Door County Maritime Museum Store is now online! The online Museum Store features a variety of carefully curated items inspired by Door County’s rich maritime history. Store sales support the mission and programming of the Museum.

DCMM Built for Battle Exhibit Online

Shipwrecks of Door County – Online!

As we transition to a “new normal” during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Door County Maritime Museum (DCMM) wishes to continue to fulfill our mission to preserve and celebrate the rich maritime history of Door County and the Great Lakes.

COVID-19 Statement

The Door County Maritime Museum is closely monitoring the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus situation and implementing our Emergency Response Plan that outlines specific recommendations to meet the standards and recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Built for Battle: Sturgeon Bay Ships in WWII

DCMM is pleased to make our newest exhibit – Built for Battle: Sturgeon Bay Ships in World War II – available online. We want to continue to educate and engage our community, especially our area school-age population, currently dislocated from their classrooms and teachers.

Classic and Wooden Boat Festival

Shipwrecks of Door County

The Shipwrecks of Door County exhibit explores maritime life on the Great Lakes and the inherent dangers that throughout Great Lakes history have sent scores of ships to a watery grave.

The “Berylune”

Designed by it’s original owner, Walter F. Koken, as a pleasure boat for his family, the “Berylune” was built in 1917 by the Jepson Boat Works on Washington Island.  

Dive Exhibit

Visitors can see artifacts from various dives and wrecks including W.L. Brown, Riverside, R.J. Hackett, Niagra, Amoit, Berwyn, Sardinia, Plymouth and Carrington. 

Engines

Shipwrecks

Plum Island Fresnel Lens

Merry-Time Festival of Trees

Joyously celebrate the holidays by enjoying dozens of beautifully decorated Christmas trees scattered throughout the Museum’s galleries. Each of these extraordinary trees is adorned with beautiful ornaments and special surprises.

Maritime Speaker Series

The Maritime Speaker Series offers an assortment of monthly programs dealing with everything from historical topics to current issues affecting the Great Lakes and the economy that relies on it. The programs are held the first Thursday of each month November through March.

Wagon Rides

Help has arrived for those who would prefer not to get their feet wet! The museum has now implemented a tractor-drawn hay wagon with seats and sides to traverse the causeway.

Visiting Cana Island

The lighthouse is located at the end of a narrow rustic road that runs through a residential area. A parking lot is located at the end of Cana Island Rd.

Explore the Cana Island Grounds

Cana Island is a unique little island that’s bounded by the waters of Lake Michigan on just three sides. To reach the island, visitors walk across the dry lake bottom!

Climb the Lighthouse Tower

When the lighthouse was originally constructed in 1869, it was the tallest brick structure in Door County. Today, thousands of visitors climb the spiral staircase for a birds-eye view.

Fish Tug Hope

Visitors have a rare opportunity to explore, inside and out, the 45-foot-wooden fish tug Hope.

John Roen Asher Gallery

This gallery is packed with drama, adventure, ingenuity and boating fun. Delve into the Great Lakes’ most spectacular ship raising.

Baumgartner Gallery

The Baumgartner Gallery houses a complete Door County lighthouse exhibit, as well as a wide-ranging collection of model ships.

Sentinels of the Shore

Investigate a full-size 4th order Fresnel lens replica of the Door County Sherwood Point Lighthouse lantern that’s typically 61 feet in the air.

Peterson Gallery

The amazing accomplishments of Sturgeon Bay shipbuilders come to life in the rich Peterson Gallery.

Horton Gallery

Step into an actual wheelhouse of a 1907 steamship. Put your hands on the large wooden wheel and sound Elba’s horn.

Tug John Purves

Enjoy an all-access, 40 minute guided tour of the John Purves, an immaculately restored 1960s era Great Lakes tugboat. Explore the entire 149-foot tug, from her engine room to crew cabins and wheelhouse.

Wooden Boatbuilding Class

Each year the Museum hosts a wooden boatbuilding class, keeping this maritime tradition alive. The class is open to beginners as well as experienced woodworkers.