Baumgartner Gallery

Scale models of boats and ships built in Sturgeon Bay include half-hull or plating models, corporate models and folk art models. Also found in this gallery: "Sentinels of the Shore", an exhibit on the area lighthouses with a full size replica of the lantern room of Sherwood Point lighthouse, complete with its 4th order Fresnel lens.

 

The Founders Gallery

A chronological history of shipbuilding begins here in mid 1800 with Indian dugouts and birch bark canoes and continues to the present, including exhibits of the late 1800s Great Lakes lumber schooners; the early 1900 shipyards of Sturgeon Bay; the 1940-1970s war efforts of Sturgeon Bay shipbuilders; and present-day shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay.

The Horton Gallery

Steer the steamship, Elba, through the downtown bridge from the Pilot House. Freshwater Fury coming this summer!

The Peterson Gallery

The visitor will find an extensive exhibit on the raising of the George E. Humphrey, one of the largest ships to ever have been salvaged, refitted and sailed. Captain John Roen's and Roen Salvage's role in Door County's maritime history is fully documented, along with actual equipment used in salvage operations including a decompression chamber and hard hat diver's outfit. Here, too, is actual dock space for three large vessels. The Engine Room, seen left, includes a collection of antique outboard motors. Also here is Jim's Boat Shop -- actual building space for boat builders where visitors to the museum may see works in progress. In this gallery, history of marinas in Door County is chronicled, along with the first Marine Travelift.