What are the opening hours?

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

Door County Historical Museum and Archives

Name: Door County Historical Museum and Archives
Address: 18 N 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI, 54235, US
Telephone: +19207435809
Price range: $

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Door County Historical Museum and Archives

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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 exciting 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.

10/29/2026

It’s a wonderful thing when a community comes together to preserve its history!

Several local historical organizations are joining forces to save the 1870s barn and 1848 log cabin on the Cardy property in Sturgeon Bay.

First up: Cleanup! If you missed last weekend’s workday, you’ll have another chance to lend a hand this Saturday, October 31, at 10 a.m., and Sunday, November 1, at noon. Every helping hand makes a difference!

This remarkable property connects us to thousands of years of human history. It contains evidence of some of the earliest human activity on the Door Peninsula, dating back approximately 11,000 years, as well as the remains of an early farmstead from the mid-to-late 1800s.

Come be part of preserving this unique piece of Door County history for future generations!

10/27/2026

We’ve got some good news and some bad news about this year’s Tales from the Museum awards event!

THE GOOD NEWS: We received 60 amazing stories, and our judges are hard at work trying to pick the winners. It’s going to be a tough job!

THE BAD NEWS: Moldy Joe is hosting again this year.

We really, REALLY didn’t want him back. But apparently, someone said his name three times in the museum restroom, and now we’re contractually obligated to let him host again. This is according to his lawyer, B. L. Zebub, Esq.

Join us this Thursday, October 29, at 6 PM to find out who takes home the trophies!

We can’t promise Moldy Joe will behave, but we can promise a good time!

10/23/2026

It's time to cast your vote! The photo with the most likes by next Tuesday will be the winner (even thought we all know it's going to be Nyla AGAIN).

10/22/2026

🎃 Today We Carve!

The second annual staff pumpkin carving contest is officially underway! Can anyone dethrone Nyla, last year’s reigning champion? Tune in tomorrow and cast your vote for your favorite!

Pro tip: Primitive stone tools make surprisingly effective pumpkin-gut scrapers. Who knew? (Thanks David Slamka!)

10/20/2026

We’re OPEN! But there’s a lot of construction happening around the museum right now.

This week, crews are working on a new ramp at our front entrance to make the museum more accessible. The door on the left side will be out of service for a while, but the right-side door and side entrance are still available.

Meanwhile, renovations at the former Yonkers building are in full swing, and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead! These improvements will help us share Door County’s rich history with our community and visitors for the next 87 years and beyond.

Thanks for your patience while we work through the dust and construction. We look forward to welcoming you!

10/17/2026

Nyla says "Don't forget to write your spooky story for the 2026 Tales from the Museum!".

Good news for procrastinators and creatures of the night: the deadline has been extended to this Sunday at midnight, when the clock strikes midnight!

Need a little inspiration? The Museum is open today. Come wander through history and let the spooky ideas find you.

10/16/2026

It’s dank and chilly outside, but we’ve got the lime kiln fired up, making things warm and cozy inside the museum.

10/14/2026

Did you know that back in the day, the person who made your living room couch might be the same person who eventually makes your coffin? Back in the 1800s into the 1900s, furniture makers discovered that there was money to be made in undertaking and, as it turned out, furniture making and coffin making required the same skills. As such, it was common to be able to enter a furniture store and, while browsing for your next kitchen table, stumble across a selection of coffins and other funerary items. In Door County, this was true well into the 1950s and, funny enough, Costco carries on the tradition today with some stores still selling couches in the same room as coffins!

Just in time for Halloween, we have our very own coffin for you to try out! What’s better? If you sign up for our newsletter and show us, we will take your photo in the coffin, edit it to look more “old-timey,” and email it back to you.

10/13/2026

The “Scary Harry” trophies are ready!

Entries are creeping in for our 2026 Tales from the Museum creative writing contest, but there’s still time to join the fun! In a rare act of mercy, we’re extending the deadline from this Friday to Sunday night at midnight!

So sharpen your pencils (if you’re old school), fire up your keyboards (if you’re new school), and get those spooky stories, poems, or songs finished and submitted!

Check out the Facebook event for all the details… if you dare.

10/12/2026

A different approach to timber harvest

During the lumber boom of the late 1800s, many logging companies harvested timber as quickly as possible, leaving behind cutover land and enormous amounts of logging debris. This practice had severe environmental impacts and was partially responsible for fires of 1871. The Menominee Nation took a different approach, guided by a philosophy of sustainable harvesting: cut selectively, allow the forest to regenerate, and make sure there will be timber for future generations.

The results are remarkable. According to Menominee Tribal Enterprises, more than 2.5 billion board feet of timber have been harvested from the Menominee forest, yet it holds more standing timber today than it did in 1854.

There’s also a Door County connection. Reginald Oshkosh, father of Chief Roy Oshkosh, was involved in the Menominee logging and lumber industry in the early 1900s.

The Menominee story reminds us that a forest can be more than a resource to exploit. Managed with care, it can sustain a community for generations.

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

http://www.doorcountymuseum.org/, https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/DgSd2Yb/signup, https://hub.catalogit.app/door-

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