When visiting the coast of Wisconsin, it only makes sense to delve into the rich history of the Great Lakes that surround it. In Door County, Sturgeon Bay is home to the Maritime Museum where life at sea in years past is preserved. Two other locations; Cana Island Lighthouse in Baileys Harbor; and the Death’s Door Maritime Museum in Gills Rock are sister locations of the main museum.
The collection of maritime items, photos, and stories is a top tourist destination in Wisconsin and sees 95,000 visitors annually. The Door County Maritime Museum showcases the importance of maritime travels in the Great Lakes area and puts on display the last 50 years of the working waterfront. Exhibits inside include details on fisherman, ship captains, lighthouse keepers, and the evolution of boats.
On site is the 10-story Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower. The 118-foot tower is the tallest building in two counties and the fifth tallest structure in Northeast Wisconsin, offering panoramic views of busy Sturgeon Bay and Green Bay. Each of the 10 floors of the tower highlight a new section of local history: Maritime Theatre, Shipwrecks, Life Underwater, Recreational Boating, Shipbuilding, Commerce, Navigation, People of the Water, Door County’s Rocky Peninsula, and the Working Waterfront. Make sure to check out the Baumgartner Observation Deck on the 10th floor!
A particularly powerful highlight of the museum is its special exhibit commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1975 wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, one of the most haunting maritime tragedies in Great Lakes history. The exhibit thoughtfully explores the final voyage of the massive iron ore freighter, which sank during a fierce storm on Lake Superior on November 10, 1975, claiming the lives of all 29 crew members aboard.
Through artifacts, photographs, ship models, and firsthand accounts, visitors gain a deeper understanding of the ship’s significance, the dangerous realities of Great Lakes shipping, and the lasting impact the disaster had on maritime safety. The exhibit also reflects on how the Edmund Fitzgerald became etched into cultural memory, notably through Gordon Lightfoot’s iconic song, making it a moving and educational experience for visitors of all ages.
Floating just outside the Maritime Museum is the historical tugboat John Purves, first launched in 1919. The boat is 149-feet-long and has an engine room, crew cabins, galley and wheelhouse that once held a 13-man crew. The tug fulfilled a variety of supply roles during World War I. As the years went on, the tug found itself useful in other maritime conflicts around the world and in WW2.
The John Purves was eventually donated to the Door County Maritime Museum in 2003. Complete restoration took 5 ½ years, 30,000+ volunteer hours, and over $1 Million. Now the tug operates as a floating exhibit that has seen more than 70,000 visitors. A 40-minute guided tour of the John Purves is available May – October where you can explore the historical vessel.
Admission to the Maritime Museum is $17 for adults, $8 for children ages 5 to 17, and free for children under the age of 4. Seniors and veterans pay only $14 and active military and up to five family members are free. For just a few dollars extra, you can have a guided tour on the John Purves. Tours of the tugboat alone are $10. The museum is open in January – April from 10am – 4pm, May – October from 9am – 5pm, and November – December from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.