Dear Museum Friends,
YOUR Door County Maritime Museum had a great deal to celebrate this year.
- An exciting new exhibit in the Baumgartner Gallery in Sturgeon Bay: Sentinels of the Door, celebrating the rich history of the US Coast Guard (and predecessor services) on the Door Peninsula;
- The launch of our new, free digital guide to all three museum locations on the Bloomberg Connects mobile platform;
- A new phone system and computer network upgrades for our office staff;
- An AMAZING Tall Ships event in collaboration with Destination Sturgeon Bay;
- Most importantly, the purchase and occupancy of a new off-site collections storage and archives facility at 512 South Columbia Street, Sturgeon Bay.
On June 2, 2025, DCMM entered an exciting new phase of development with the purchase of an existing former manufacturing building to become our new off-site collections storage and archive facility. The building will allow us to more appropriately preserve and protect – in perpetuity – the items that represent the globally important maritime history of Door County and the Great Lakes.
This project was made possible with the generous support of the P.G. Horton Charitable Trust, the David L. & Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the George Kress Foundation, The Boldt Company, the Dwight and Linda Davis Foundation, the Raibrook Foundation, and the 1923 Fund.
Now we ask your support for our annual Anchor Appeal. General operation funds contributed to the Anchor Appeal keep Museum doors open to the public year-round in Sturgeon Bay, and help our staff operate three seasonal museum properties: the tug John Purves in Sturgeon Bay; the Cana Island Lighthouse in Baileys Harbor; and the Death’s Door Maritime Museum in Gills Rock.
For the fifth year in a row, we have a matching challenge for our year-end Anchor Appeal. Chris and Lori Harder, son and daughter-in-law of DCMM Emeritus Board Member and former Board President Bill Harder, have again provided a $20,000 matching gift, which will match every contribution to the Anchor Appeal!
For every dollar raised during our year-end fundraising campaign, Chris & Lori will generously match your contribution, dollar-for-dollar,
up to a total of $40,000. With the matching challenge, your $50 gift becomes $100. A $1000 gift becomes $2000. A $5 gift becomes $10.
Make your gift of support for DCMM today, in a manner that best fits your resources:
- A monetary gift, by cash, check or credit card;
- A Qualified Charitable Distribution from a traditional IRA;
- A gift from a Donor Advised Fund;
- A gift of stock or securities;
- Online at www.dcmm.org/donations-membership/donations.
If you wish to make an estate gift or bequest to the Door County Maritime Museum (OR if you already have), please contact Deputy Director & Development Manager Sam Perlman at sperlman@dcmm.org or 920-743-5958. We welcome and encourage supporters of all ages to make planned gifts to DCMM.
The coming year will bring improvements to the Peterson Gallery in Sturgeon Bay, required renovations to 512 South Columbia and new exhibits on display at the Death’s Door Maritime Museum.
Thanks as always goes to the hardworking staff, Board of Directors and other volunteers of the Door County Maritime Museum for their passion, engagement and encouragement. Their enthusiasm for our work and support of our mission has an incredibly positive influence on the Museum and our guests.
Thank you, for supporting YOUR Door County Maritime Museum. Please donate today!