Death's Door Maritime Museum

About this activity

Death's Door Maritime Museum is a hidden gem in the small fishing village of Gills Rock Wisconsin, located at the very tip of Door County peninsula.

This family friendly maritime museum traces the region's commercial fishing traditions, and features a host of exhibits that allow you to see the many fascinating areas of its rich roots.

You can see the wooden fishing tug boat Hope, as well as a replica net shed, complete with net reel, fishing boxes, and a number of other traditional fishing supplies!

Also at Death's Door Maritime Museum you get the rare opportunity to explore (inside and out) the 45ft wooden fishing boat built in 1930.

You can even see a video of the tug's final fishing trip back in 1992!

Death's Door Maritime Museum also features an exhibit all about a shipwreck, as well as a scuba diving exhibit where you can see artifacts actually brought up from the bottom of Lake Michigan. Don't miss the information on the region's dangerous passage known as Death's Door - hence the name of the museum!

In fact, its the strait of water which passes between Washington Island to the north, and the Door Peninsula to the south which is rich in history and legend.

There's actually an exhibit that explore the origins of Ports des Morts (as it was referred to by French explorers) right back to the native American tribes, and the legends associated with them.

Some of the shipwrecks which went down in this infamous strait are explores, as well as the thrilling accounts of those fisherman who worked its waters!

You can use a Lyle gun to rescue stranded mariners, and even browse an area devoted to marine engines (including those built at Kahlenberg Brothers)

With plenty of exhibits and interactive technology, Death's Door Maritime Museum allows you to experience maritime history in a whole new way.

So kids, are you ready for an adventure?