Purchase a Gift Card and give the gift of exploring Door County!

This tour is a must have overview of Door County and Sturgeon Bay! Join us for an on water exploration of the 9 primary topics in the Maritime Museum's newest addition, the 10 story high Kress Tower. The tower's exhibit design team was selected for their award winning achievements in developing themes and displays for National Park Visitor Centers.

This tour departs from the Maritime Museum and proceeds westward under the historic Michigan Street Bridge to Bay Ship Fincantieri shipyard, circles over to Bullhead point then back under the bridge. From there we head eastward under two more impressive drawbridges all the way through the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal to the Coast Guard Station, Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Light, and the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pier Head Lighthouse on Lake Michigan before returning to the Maritime Museum.

Along the way, our narrators masterfully weave fascinating facts about: shipbuilding, geology of the peninsula, early commerce, shipwrecks, recreational boating, navigation, life underwater, early settlers, Native Americans, ship canal, Coast Guard, lighthouses. And of course, we will help learners of all ages earn their First Mate Status!

Upgrade for Best Value

For an additional $10 adult or $5 youth, consider upgrading to our Sturgeon Bay Day Package, which includes 2-hour boat tour and entrance admission fee into the impressive Door County Maritime Museum including the stunning Kress tower! One admission per ticket purchased, not transferrable, valid this season only. We also encourage guests to visit Crossroads at Big Creek, Sturgeon Bay’s premier nature preserve and learning center (no admission fee at Crossroads).

Door County Maritime Museum The Door County Maritime Museum showcases the area’s rich maritime roots. Hard-working anglers, brave ship captains, skilled craftsmen, bold inventors and lonely lighthouse keepers are just some of the personalities you’ll discover in the galleries of the museum.The landmark 118-foot Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower is the tallest building in two counties and the fifth tallest structure in Northeast Wisconsin, affording incredible views of the working waterfront of Sturgeon Bay and the bay of Green Bay. Exhibits within the Tower use state-of-the-art interactives designed to capture the imagination, immerse visitors in the experience of Wisconsin’s rich nautical heritage, and inspire the next generation of Wisconsin’s workforce.

Crossroads at Big Creek Crossroads at Big Creek is a 200-acre nature preserve and learning center located on the east side Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. With distinct ecosystems of woodlands, prairies and wetlands, it is a pure pleasure to peacefully explore the gentle topography while taking in the diverse flora and fauna via the many miles of hiking trails. The mission of Crossroads is to inspire environmental stewardship in learners of all ages and from all backgrounds through education, research, land restoration and outdoor experiences.

Also located at Crossroads is the Door County Heritage Village. The village consists of 8 buildings from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. These buildings were gems located around the county, moved to this location and beautifully restored to serve as a reminder of our collective past. The inspiration to create the village came from eighth grade students who upon returning from a field trip to a pioneer village in Upper Michigan, spurred a movement for Door County to create its own pioneer village. It's a delightful place to to take a look around and set your imagination free! Its OK, go ahead and be open and curious like an eighth grader again!