Experience the Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Industry

Photo by Jim Lundstrom.

The 2017 Sturgeon Bay Rotary Shipyard Tours will be held May 6. On this day, guests are invited to experience an insider’s view of the shipbuilding industry in Sturgeon Bay. For more than a century this industry has been critical to Door County’s economy. The shipbuilders of Sturgeon Bay have designed, built and repaired vessels—commercial, military and pleasure craft—that have traveled to ports around the globe.

The largest shipyard on the great lakes, Bay Shipbuilding, and CenterPointe Yacht Services will again open their doors to the public on the first Saturday of May. Both facilities are located on First Avenue in downtown Sturgeon Bay. Bay Shipbuilding and CenterPointe will offer guided walking tours of their ship repair and new ship construction facilities. Sandwiches and refreshments will be available for purchase at Bay Shipbuilding from 9 am to 2 pm.

Back by popular demand, this year the Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club has arranged for the 140-foot United States Coast Guard cutter Mobile Bay to be open for guided tours free of charge at the Graham Park dock in Sturgeon Bay from 9 am to 2 pm. The Emergency Rescue boat from the Canal Station along with the Sturgeon Bay Police Boat will be on location for tours.

This year the Door County Maritime Museum and the working waterfront of the west side will also be included on the tour. At the Maritime Museum, tour the USCG 41 footer, explore the Chicago Fireboat (Fred A. Busse) and obtain information about the Selvick Marine tugs.

Two busses will be running for the event to shuttle guests between the four stops. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Tours at Bay Shipbuilding take around an hour and are on gravel and pavement.

Tickets will be available at the shipyard entry gate and the Door County Maritime Museum on the day of the event. Tickets are $15 per adult, $6 for students ages 11-17, and free for ages 10 and younger.

The event is brought to you by the Sturgeon Bay Noon Rotary Club and benefits Door County Rotary Youth Interact, an international service organization for teenagers ages 14-18, and other Door County projects.