The Door County Maritime Museum is Sturgeon Bay's essential stop. It tells the story of the peninsula through boats: shipbuilding, fishing, lighthouses, lifesaving stations, wrecks, and the working vessels that made Door County more than a vacation shoreline.
The Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower gives wide views over the bay, bridges, and shipyards. Visit early in your stay; the museum makes the rest of the waterfront and canal make more sense.