Door County Historical Museum and Archives

Door County Historical Museum and Archives The Door County Museum and Archives was founded in 1939 by Harry Dankohler, a former newspaper publisher and passionate advocate for Door County history.

The Door County Museum and Archives preserves and celebrates the rich history of Door County, Wisconsin

Our collections can be viewed at: https://hub.catalogit.app/door-county-museum-and-archives The museum has seen big changes since those early days, transforming from a one-room exhibit of Door County curiosities into a modern, multi-level facility showcasing every facet of our county's excitin

g history. What hasn't changed in over 85 years of operation is the dedication of our curators and volunteers to "Uncle" Harry's original dream: a world class museum for Door County, free and open to all. The Door County Museum offers exhibits on every phase of county history, from the prehistoric Silurian seas to the modern day. The Pioneer Fire Station features beautifully maintained historic fire engines and a fully functional vintage jail cell, while the Seasons of Life diorama provides a stunning recreation of Door County's famous natural beauty. The museum's meticulously prepared displays, huge variety of historical artifacts and commitment to hands-on history for all ages have led to the Door County Museum and Archives to being named the "Best Small Museum in the Midwest" by the Chicago Tribune. We are open Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00am - 4:30pm from May 1 through December 14 and Thursday - Saturday, 10am - 4:30pm from January 16 through April 30. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.

It's County Fair Time! Are you going? Note: these are advertisements from fairs long past, go to doorcountyfair(dot)com ...
08/12/2026

It's County Fair Time! Are you going? Note: these are advertisements from fairs long past, go to doorcountyfair(dot)com for the current events and schedules.

08/12/2026
08/10/2026

If you like vintage farming equipment - The Valmy Thresheree - Northeastern Wisconsin Antique Power Association is the place to be this weekend!

It’s an amazing Fossil Friday at the museum!Our volunteer geologist, Ryan, has discovered a trilobite pygidium, also kno...
08/07/2026

It’s an amazing Fossil Friday at the museum!

Our volunteer geologist, Ryan, has discovered a trilobite pygidium, also known as a trilobite butt! 😂 Trilobites are rare fossils in Door County, so finding this one is pretty exciting.

Even more interesting, this pygidium was found in the same rock that previously revealed a trilobite “cheek.” This one little rock from southern Door County contains fossils from more than 100 different creatures!

Ryan is helping us develop a new exhibit exploring an amazing question: What can we learn about prehistoric Door County by studying just one little rock?

Stay tuned as we uncover more of what this remarkable rock has to tell us!

A great photo of the 1904 Sturgeon Bay High School basketball team.
08/05/2026

A great photo of the 1904 Sturgeon Bay High School basketball team.

Huge props to the kids in the coordinated program from and for cooking up some ridiculously awesome scavenger hunts f...
07/29/2026

Huge props to the kids in the coordinated program from and for cooking up some ridiculously awesome scavenger hunts for us! We just discovered pandas and kangaroos lurking in the museum, who knew?!

Massive thanks to the authors behind this awesome scavenger hunt!

07/27/2026

For a moment this morning, 4th Avenue was on the waterfront!

07/25/2026
Come take a hike with the museum's resident rock nerd, Joe Taylor, along with John Newman from the Wisconsin DNR, as we ...
07/23/2026

Come take a hike with the museum's resident rock nerd, Joe Taylor, along with John Newman from the Wisconsin DNR, as we explore how the Ice Age shaped Door County.

We'll meet at the Potawatomi State Park Nature Center tomorrow (Friday) at 3:00 p.m. for a short introduction to the area's geology before heading out on a hike to see some of the fascinating features left behind by the glaciers. We hope to see you there!

Address

18 N 4th Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI
54235

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 4:30pm
Thursday 10:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 10am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+19207435809

Website

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