Door County - The Official Visitor Guide 2008 - (Page 38) Museums & Historic Attractions Historical & Cultural Attractions Door County History Lives On Today The average visitor to Door County falls in love with the beautiful peninsula literally on the spot. Of course, if visitors are that taken with the peninsula, it’s easy to imagine how much respect and pride local dwellers might have. Many descendants of the peninsula’s original settlers still comprise the majority of the county’s population even today, and the pride for our local history and heritage has led to the preservation of many historic buildings and sites, many of which are still in use today as not only museums and cultural attractions, but also lodging establishments, restaurants, business structures, and restored living spaces. Whether it is through our food, our festivals, our buildings, or our mannerisms, Door County puts its heritage and history proudly on display in the present. Although there was a bit of settlement in Door County by the early 1800s, significant settlement in the peninsula did not begin until the 1850s. Groups of Belgian, Irish, German, Polish, Scandinavian/Norwegian, and Icelanders put down roots in many different areas of Door County. Early settlers made their living by fishing, farming, and tree cutting. In the late 1860s, steamers from Milwaukee and Chicago began stopping at the village harbors on the peninsula, dropping off goods, and, later in the century when the steamers began to keep regular schedules, tourists. The Goodrich Line, organized in 1855, was one of the first lines to put Sturgeon Bay and other Door County ports on its lists of stops. The Goodrich Line, along with the building of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, propelled tourism to become one of Door County’s most profitable industries. Many visitors found Door County by traveling here on these boats from Milwaukee or Chicago, and soon every pier around Door County’s harbor towns and villages became a flurry of activity, waiting for people, cargo, and supplies to come off of the steamers. What started as families opening their homes for summer visitors quickly transformed into a thriving hotel and restaurant industry in the peninsula. In many cases, the visitors have formed an extended summer family of their own, coming back every summer to show their offspring and friends the beauty and calm of the peninsula that prompted their first visit all those years ago. No matter if you’re a local resident, a seasonal resident, or a visitor on the peninsula for a weekend, we encourage you to visit our many historical sites and cultural attractions. Museums all over the county reveal our interesting history and impressive story of settlement through visual displays, oral and written histories, and artifacts. Come see how we celebrate our heritage at our many ethnic festivals. Regardless of where you are on the peninsula, the county has many stories – and we’re more than willing to share them. - Melissa Ripp Historic Sites ■ EPHR AIM MONUMENT On the shore across from the Ephraim Village Hall Commemorates landing of the Moravians in 1853. ■ LOg cABIN OF AsA THORP Founders Square, Fish Creek House of the Founder of Fish Creek. ■ OLd RUggEd cROss ✦ Maple St, Sturgeon Bay Historical marker at Friends Church where the composer introduced this hymn in 1913. ■ HIsTORIc MIcHIgAN sTREET BRIdgE ✦ Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay Owned by the State of Wisconsin, this bridge was built in 1930, and is currently being placed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of only two remaining examples left in the United States. The Schwerzer-type overhead counterweight draw section makes this structure both unique and nationally significant. Rehabilitation is scheduled to begin September 2008. Snowshoeing at the Ridges ■ OLd scHOOL HOUsE South edge of Sister Bay on Hwy 42 & 57 First schoolhouse in northern Door County. Founded 1866. Presently Sister Bay Info Center. ■ THE RIdgEs ON WAsHINgTON IsLANd Jackson Harbor, NE corner of Washington Island A state of Wisconsin Scientific area. Nature trail. ■ RIdgEs sANcTUARY ✦ 1/2 mi N. of Baileys Harbor www.ridgesanctuary.org A natural area where only native plants & animals exist. Foot travel only. Hiking trails, including trail for visually handicapped. Guided tours during summer & early fall. ■ HIsTORIc sTURgEON BAY ✦ 920-743-6246 Self-guided walk or drive of Sturgeon Bay’s two “National Register Historic Districts.” Complete tour includes over 100 buildings. Maps available from Sturgeon Bay Visitor & Convention Bureau. ■ sTURgEON BAY sHIP cANAL & cOAsT gUARd sTATION LIgHTHOUsE At eastern foot of canal that connects Lake Michigan & Sturgeon Bay. Canal completed in 1882. Lighthouse and breakwater pier are some of the most photographed subjects in the county. See Calendar of Events in the back of this book for scheduled historical/museum events. 38 The Official Door County Visitor Guide ✦ Open in Winter ✧ Open Limited Hours in Winter W Open Winter Weekends http://www.doorcounty.com/arts-culture/culture-history-museums.aspx http://www.ridgesanctuary.org
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