Sturgeon Bay Canal Lighthouse Station

The first settler in Door County was Increase Claflin, who settled in Little Sturgeon, and the first settler in Sturgeon Bay was Robert Griffin, who built his home on the waterfront at the foot of Pennsylvania St. More settlers came in 1852. Sturgeon Bay, so named because of the shape of the bay, became a village in 1874 and was chartered as a city in 1883. What is now the west side of Sturgeon Bay was originally the village of Bayview, which most folks referred to as Sawyer. The state legislature consolidated Bayview with the city of Sturgeon Bay in 1891.

The first industry in Sturgeon Bay was lumbering; there were three mills. Around the turn of the century, two pea canneries were founded, and in 1915 one was converted to the Evangeline milk condensing plant. Two years later the other cannery converted from peas to cherries. Shipbuilding began in the 1880's when Mr. Leathem and Mr. Smith formed the Leathem and Smith Dock Co., which later became the Christy Corp., and is now Bay Shipbuilding. During WW II, the yard had 5,000 employees in three shifts which built 93 ships, from patrol boats to aircraft carriers for the Navy. Tents and camping trailers sprang up in the city's parks, and temporary housing was built in the area of 6th to 7th Avenues and Florida and Colorado Streets.

Stone Harbor Resort

The federal government sold the homes to individuals after the war and some are still on the original stilts, although some now have foundations. Martin Peterson established Peterson Boat Works in 1907, building rowboats, canoes, and fishing tugs. During WW II the firm built submarine chasers, high speed aircraft rescue vessels, as well as other types of ships for the Navy. The buildings have now been torn down and the area, on South 3rd Avenue, is slated for the construction of single family homes, condominiums, shops, and dockage. Palmer Johnson was established after WW II and built luxury yachts and racing yachts. PJ's, as it is referred to by the locals, is located at Kentucky and 2nd Avenue; this part of the building was Krier Preserving Company in the 1970's.

The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was begun in 1872 and finally finished in 1882, separating the east side of the city from the rest of the former peninsula.

There are so many things to do in Sturgeon Bay and vicinity that there is something for everyone. If you like theater, we have a variety of choices. Third Avenue Playhouse, otherwise known as TAP, has a variety of programs, drama, musical, informative, and entertaining and operates year 'round. It is located in the building which used to be the Donna movie theater in downtown Sturgeon Bay. On Alabama St., behind the Pick 'n Save grocery store at the entrance to Sturgeon Bay are the Sturgeon Bay Cinemas, which is a 6-screen movie theater.

I particularly like the shows at Peninsula Players at the end of Peninsula Players Road off Hiway 42, south of Fish Creek. They usually have one musical show, some drama, and some comedy. The theater is on the shore of the bay of Green Bay and the grounds are lavish with flowers and trees. Sunsets here are beautiful. It is considered an outdoor theater but has a roof and canvas sides which are rolled down to keep the chill off. Another favorite of mine is AFT, the American Folklore Theater. It is located within Peninsula State Park, is truly an outdoor theater so don't go if it is raining. Originally the shows depicted historical events but now they are musical comedies, many of which spoof the folks of Belgian descent who settled in the southern end of the county, such as "Lumberjacks in Love" and "Belgians in Heaven".

A new venue is a dinner theater, Door Off Broadway, located in Mr. G's Supper Club on Hiway 57. There is also a Shakespearean theater in the summer months off Hiway 57 near Baileys Harbor. It is called Door Shakespeare, and they perform in the garden at Bjorklunden. And then there is the Door Community Auditorium adjacent to Gibraltar School on Hiway 42 at the north end of Fish Creek. It also has a variety of entertainment year 'round.

The Inn at Cedar Crossing

Another one of my favorite things to do is to eat out. Sturgeon Bay has several franchised fast food restaurants. McDonald's, Hardee's, Taco Bell, Subway, and Dairy Queen (which only has hot dogs), as well as restaurants unique to the area. On Egg Harbor Road, coming into Sturgeon Bay from the north, is the Nightingale, which is famous for its prime rib and great steaks. Farther down the road is the Neighborhood Pub, which serves great sandwiches, as well as a variety of dinners. Both of these are local favorites. If Chinese food is your cup of tea, the most popular one is the Hong Kong Buffet in Cherry Point Mall on Egg Harbor Road. Downtown you will find the Pudgy Seagull, a mom & pop type cafe with homemade soups and desserts. Across the street is the Inn at Cedar Crossing, which is more upscale, serving fine cuisine and sinful home made desserts. Perry's Cherry Diner, just before the bridge, is decorated in 1950's style and is a no smoking restaurant. They have great Greek salads and gyros as well as delicious home made pies.

Fish Boil at Leathem Smith Lodge

We have two restaurants which offer seating with a view of the Bay. Leathem Smith Lodge Restaurant is at the end of Memorial Drive. After crossing the bridge, continuing west, Michigan Street becomes Madison Avenue. Just after the bridge is Applebee's on the right, and don't miss the Galley Cafe, a more upscale restaurant which serves delicious breakfasts and lunches. Another block up the street is Sonny's Pizza, which also has sandwiches and beer. And finally, on the far west end of Sturgeon Bay is a Country Kitchen.

Two restaurants which are not in Sturgeon Bay, but which are favorites of mine are Donny's Glidden Lodge Restaurant south of Jacksonport and Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant in Sister Bay. Donny's is on the shore of Lake Michigan at the north end of Glidden Drive. Every seat offers a view of the water. The shortest way to get there is to turn toward the Lake in Valmy, then right on Glidden Drive. Donny specializes in German food, and everything is home made. Entrees include steaks and lobster tail. And Al's, well, it's famous for excellent food, including Swedish pancakes served with lingonberries or strawberries (and whipped cream of course), although all the food is excellent. You'll be sure to recognize Al's because of the sod roof with goats grazing atop it.

Lest you fear entering the metropolis of Sturgeon Bay and getting lost, I must explain how easy it is to find what you are looking for - if you know the address. On the east side, all the east/west streets are named after states, and are in alphabetical order, ending with Memorial Drive along the Bay. The north/south streets are numbered. On the west side, all the north/south streets are proper names in alphabetical order. All the east/west streets are named after trees, and are also in alphabetical order. Unfortunately, the names start at the city limits and go to the water so new subdivisions cannot follow the plan.

Door County Trolley

Now, following that nice lunch or dinner, you may want to take a horse and buggy ride around the city. They generally start from Stone Harbor. And speaking of riding, there is also the Door County Trolley, which gives narrated sight-seeing trips through the County. Call 920-743-8734 to find out times and places of departure. A nice place to go bowling is Apple Valley Lanes on 14th Avenue just off Egg Harbor Road. Some interesting places to shop are along Jefferson Street from 3rd to 8th Avenues. Each is an old home adapted to make it a "shop." Needlework, gifts, antiques, unique kitchen ware, and even a cigar store are in this popular shopping area.

What to do with the kids on a rainy day? Well, most kids won't want to go shopping with you, so check to see if the Cinema happens to have a matinee that day, or take them to the YMCA (which has a swimming pool with slide) which can be used on a one day pass. Or take them to the Door County Library which has talking books and CDs as well as books.

Fairfield Art Museum

The Miller Art Museum is located inside the Door County Library at the corner of 4th Avenue and Nebraska Street. The displays are changed regularly and you can call the library or check their website to find out what type of art is being shown. A new center for art is the Fairfield Art Museum, named in honor of the gentleman who developed Glidden Drive and was an avid collector of art. The building was originally Sturgeon Bay's first hospital and had fireplaces in many of the patient rooms.

Exhibit at Door County Maritime Museum

Sturgeon Bay boasts two other museums: the Door County Historical Museum at the corner of Michigan and 4th Avenue, and the Door County Maritime Museum at the west end of the bridge. Within the Historical Museum are three fully restored fire engines and fire-fighting equipment used in times gone by, the history of the cherry industry, old farm equipment, and a display on ice fishing, to name just a few of the displays. The Maritime Museum was built in 1997. It is located on Madison Street at the foot of the bridge. Displays include a working periscope, a pilothouse from an ore carrier, a lighthouse display, and many nautical artifacts. This is definitely worth seeing. Speaking of lighthouses, there are lighthouse walks and tours of the two shipyards in May every year. Also, the Maritime Museum is where one buys tickets to ride the old Chicago fire boat moored alongside the bridge. This is a narrated tour which goes thru the canal to Lake Michigan and to the Bay of Green Bay in the opposite direction; this is also worthwhile.

On some Saturday nights in summer there are dances or concerts in a barn at The Hearthside Farm on Taube Rd. No alcohol is allowed. To get there, take County U south at the west end of the highway bridge. Supper clubs which have small dance floors are the Nightingale, Andre's on Oak St. just off Madison, and Leathem Smith Lodge at the end of Memorial Drive.

Corn Maze at Schopf's Hilltop Dairy Farm

Two places to take the kids are "The Farm" on Hiway 57, just beyond the intersection with Hiway 42, north of Sturgeon Bay, and Schopf's Hilltop Dairy Farm. At "The Farm", animals may be petted and fed, and some old farm equipment is displayed. Going east on Carlsville Road from Hiway 42 is the Dairy Farm, where children can see cows being milked and eat home made ice cream. This is a mega farm with hundreds of cows, one of two in Door County.

Another activity in the Carlsville area is horseback riding. Both Kurtz Corral and Carol's Corral are in this area; you'll see signs to them. Bike riding is done all over Door County. North of Sturgeon Bay the highways have extra paved lanes along the shoulders for bikers. The Ahnapee Trail starts at Lansing Street and Green Bay Road, near Country Kitchen. This was originally the track for the railroad between Sturgeon Bay and Algoma, and is now used for bicycle riding, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. There are also bike paths in some state parks, and roads thru all of them.

Cave Point County Park is worth seeing. It is adjacent to Whitefish Dunes State Park, off the southern end of Glidden Drive. There is a swimming beach here, as well as in Otumba Park and Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay. Water activities include fishing both in summer and winter, and diving to explore the many sunken ships around the county.

On Saturday nights, stock car races are held in the county fair park on 14th Avenue between Michigan and Egg Harbor Road. The Door County Fair is held in August, usually during the second week.

Lookout tower at Potawatomi State Park

What do we do in winter? No, we don't roll up the sidewalks on November 1st. The City floods areas on both sides of the Bay for ice skating when it is cold enough. Cross country skiing is great in the parks and on the Ahnapee Trail. There is a ski hill in Potawatomi State Park, south of the city. The ski lift, which was staffed by volunteers, has not been operated the last several years, but the hardy skier and sledders can still use the hill and walk back up.

Karaoke at the Landmark Resort

There are so many festivals and celebrations in Door County that I can't list them all. You can get information on them from the front desk at the Landmark Resort in Egg Harbor or from the Door County Chamber of Commerce. And speaking of the Landmark, there is Karaoke in the bar many Saturday nights from May through October, and some Saturday nights in the winter. And don't miss dinner in the restaurant or a cocktail in the bar at sunset. The view is absolutely outstanding. And if you stay until dark, on a clear night you can see the lights of Marinette.