Sturgeon Bay Scenic Cruise

Duration

2 Hours

Step Aboard For a Captivating On-Water Experience!

Join us as we embark on a journey through time, visiting past and present iconic scenes of the Sturgeon Bay area as we celebrate the resilience and ingenuity of those who shaped it!

Our narrated boat tours feature slideshow photos (on large screen monitors) that bring to life the rich history and vibrant present of this often overlooked maritime gem!

Tour topics are paired with the 9 themes of the Door County Maritime Museum’s newest addition, the 10-story high Kress Tower. The Kress Tower exhibits were designed by an award-winning team known for their work with National Park Visitor Centers. You can rest assured our tours are of the highest quality and on point!

Two Incredible Tour Routes—Chosen by the Captain

Depending on wind and weather conditions, your captain will guide the tour either southeast or northwest, ensuring the best possible experience.

East Tour

• Journey under the iconic Michigan Street Bridge
• View the storied Bay Ship Fincantieri shipyard
• Discover the shipwrecks of Bullhead Point
• Learn about the ghost shipyards of Palmer Johnson and Peterson Builders
• Learn about Range Light navigation as we proceed under the Bay Bridge to the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal
• View the Coast Guard Station
• Admire the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Light and Pierhead Lighthouse on Lake Michigan, great photo opportunities!
• On our way back, learn about the fishery, Natives, Invasives, and Transplants
• And much more!

West Tour

• Sail under the historic Michigan Street Bridge
• View the storied Bay Ship Fincantieri shipyard
• Discover the shipwrecks of Bullhead Point
• Following the picturesque shoreline past Potawatomi State Park, learn its history and ecology
• Marvel at the stunning Sherwood Point Lighthouse
• On our way back, learn about the fishery, Natives, Invasives, and Transplants
• And much more!

Tour Subjects

As we glide through the waters, our expert narrators bring Sturgeon Bay’s maritime legacy to life, sharing fascinating insights about:

• Shipbuilding & early commerce
• The geology of the peninsula and the quarry industry
• Shipwrecks
• Early settlers & Native Americans
• The role of the Coast Guard, Lighthouses and general navigation
• Life underwater: the fishery, natives, invasives and transplants
• Life on land: forestry and ecology

First Mate Youth Activity

Engage with our tour to become an honorary First Mate! Complete a word find game, learn to tie a bowline knot, take the Door County Pledge. And maybe, if you're good, the captain will allow you to steer the ship - under their watchful eyes! Diploma-like certificates signed by the captain or crew are a keepsake to treasure and remember.

Ready to see Sturgeon Bay from the water? Join us for a family memory maker!

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Enhance Your Door County Experience

Visit our incredible Educational Partners: Door County Maritime Museum, Crossroads at Big Creek - Nature Preserve and Learning Center, and Door County Heritage Village. Immerse yourself in the region’s rich maritime history, explore serene walking trails along Big Creek, and step back in time to discover the Door County's Pioneer heritage.

Building Community

Our high quality narration is made possible by our Educational Partners.

With every Adult ticket purchase, Shoreline Boat Tours proudly donates $5 to support these remarkable organizations—helping to preserve and share Door County’s history, culture, and environment for generations to come.

Your adventure doesn’t just take you on the water—it helps keep history and nature alive and well!

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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 a vista out to the bay of Green Bay. Exhibits within the Tower use state-of-the-art interactives designed to capture the imagination and immerse visitors into Door Counties rich nautical heritage.

Crossroads at Big Creek is a 200-acre nature preserve and learning center located on the east side of 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 take a look around and set your imagination free, go ahead and be open and curious like an eighth grader again!