CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: STURGEON BAY VISITORS CENTER; POPELKA GLASS WEBSITE; DOOR COUNTY MUSEUM & LIGHTHOUSE PRESERVATION SOCIETY; MILLER ART MUSEUM FACEBOOKinvestigate the city’s Museum Walk. First, at
the 20,000-square-foot Door County Maritime
Museum, you can tour the John Purves and
see a variety of permanent exhibitions and a
rotating show titled “Telegraphs of the Past.”
“We had all these wonderful artifacts that we
didn’t want just sitting in the archives,” Paul says.
“So we used them to create a wonderland.”
On August 12-13 this year, the Door County
Maritime Museum will host its annual Door
County Classic and Wooden Boat Festival,
complete with the Sikafl ex Boatbuilding
Challenge and Race, People’s Choice awards,
Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club Venetian Night
parade, fi reworks, food, entertainment and
more. A “Maritime on Madison” street festival
adjacent to the museum adds to the fun.
“They put on a great show,” Felhofer says.
It’s about to get even better. At press time,
the museum had raised roughly half the
funds necessary to construct an iconic square
observation tower. Paul says she hopes to see the
fundraising campaign reach its goal next spring.
“The 11th story will be an open observation
deck, and the fl oor below will be fully enclosed
with windows,” she says. “We’re looking forward
to having more exhibition and conference
space, off ering continuing education and STEM
programs for all ages, and telling more stories.”
Next is the Miller Art Museum, part of the DoorCounty Library on Fourth Avenue. The museum
features changing exhibitions and works from
its permanent collection, which includes
the late Gerhard Miller’s watercolor and egg
tempera paintings. From July 22 to September
5 the museum will honor renowned local artist
Charles “Chick” Peterson in an exhibition titled,
“Charles L. Peterson: An Artist’s Life’s Work.”
The third stop is the Door County
Historical Museum, also on Fourth Avenue,
which the Chicago Tribune once named “the
best small museum in the Midwest.” After
that, consider popping into the Sturgeon Bay
Visitor Center (SBVC) to pick up a map of the
city’s self-guided walking tour.
“We have 121 historically designated
properties,” Seiler says. “The city now has
a guided history tour, as well: On Tuesdays
starting at SBVC, and on Saturdays starting at
the Door County Historical Museum.”
Many of those historic properties are now
nurturing artists. Last year, Popelka Trenchard
Glass, the Margaret Lockwood Gallery and
the Holiday Music Motel joined forces to form
the Steel Bridge Creative District on Second
Avenue. On nearby Third Avenue, the arts
are well represented, from the Third Avenue
Playhouse to the ever-expanding Artists Guild.
Sometimes the art is outdoors. Sturgeon
Bay has become famous for its summertimeEvents
June 14 – August 23
Harmony by the Bay
July 4
Sturgeon Bay Celebrates!
July 27
Sail Thru the Avenues Sidewalk Sale
August 2–6
Door County Fair
August 3–12
Maritime Week
August 12
Maritime on Madison
August 12–13
Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Festival
September 16
Harvest Fest & Street Art Auction
October 28
Thrills on Third
November 17–19
Christmas by the BayMiller Art Museum Maritime MuseumWooden Boat Festival Popelka Trenchard GlassLAKELANDBOATING.COM | JULY 2017 59POC_SturgeonBay_JUL17.indd 59 5/25/17 12:12 PM