Blog

Historic Shipwrecks of Door County: Maritime Legacy of Wisconsin’s Peninsula

Door County, Wisconsin’s picturesque peninsula jutting into Lake Michigan, has a rich maritime history marked by both triumph and tragedy. The waters surrounding this beloved vacation destination hold secrets of the past—dozens of shipwrecks that tell stories of Great Lakes commerce, treacherous weather, and human perseverance. These underwater time capsules now serve as both somber […]

Commercial Fishing in Door County: A Rich Maritime Heritage

Door County, Wisconsin’s picturesque peninsula extending into Lake Michigan, has a long and storied relationship with commercial fishing that spans generations. From its earliest European settlers to the present day, fishing has been woven into the economic, cultural, and social fabric of this beloved destination. Historical Roots Commercial fishing in Door County dates back to […]

The History of Cherries in Door County

Door County, Wisconsin has a rich and storied relationship with cherries that spans over a century. The peninsula’s unique climate and geography created ideal conditions for cherry cultivation, transforming the region into one of America’s premier cherry-producing areas. Early Beginnings The commercial cherry industry in Door County began in the late 1800s when the first […]

Albert Zahn – The Bird Man Of Baileys Harbor

Albert Zahn (1864-1953) stands as one of Wisconsin’s most distinctive folk artists, creating a remarkable legacy in the small community of Baileys Harbor on the Door County peninsula. Often called the “Bird Man,” Zahn transformed his homestead into a living art installation that captivated visitors and eventually earned him recognition in the canon of American […]

Door County’s Internationally Recognized Dark Sky

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of blist.