Explore Our Exhibits

2018 Fall Lighthouse Festival

The 2018 Fall Lighthouse Festival returns October 6-7, 2018 and includes boat excursions and guided land-based tours spotlighting historic Door County, Wisconsin lighthouses.

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.

Lee Radtke Maritime Art Exhibit

Award-winning artist Lee Radtke will have his critically acclaimed maritime art on exhibit at the Door County Maritime Museum March 9 – October 2018. His oil paintings capture the ships at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, as well as the tugs in Sturgeon Bay. 

Steve Reinke Photography Exhibit

On January 13, 2018, the Door County Maritime Museum will open a temporary exhibit featuring maritime photography from Steve Reinke. Reinke passed away in January 2017 after years of dedicated service photographing Door County’s maritime scenes.

Faces of Fish Empire

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

Augmented Reality

Shipwrecks

Plum Island Fresnel Lens

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.

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.