Five Stops on Door County Historical Society’s Tavern Tour

The interior of the Institute Saloon. Submitted.

Pull up a barstool and join the Door County Historical Society as it embarks on “There’s a Tavern in the Town,” a narrated bus tour of Door County’s Historical Taverns on Feb. 27. The concentration of bars in Wisconsin is representative of its strong tavern culture. Through the years, so many of Wisconsin’s older tavern properties have lost their historic character or have simply disappeared.

Stopping at five old time saloons, tour-goers will explore Wisconsin’s tavern history as featured in author Jim Draeger’s Bottom’s Up! and have a lunch.

This is a history/mystery tour. The bus departs from Sturgeon Bay City Hall parking lot (corner of 4th & Michigan) at 10 am and will return about 3 pm; plan to arrive 15 minutes early. Guests will enjoy a family style baked chicken and ham luncheon with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, salad, bread, coffee and dessert. Tour-goers will have two beverage tickets for sampling. Registration deadline is Feb. 20 or when the bus sells out.

The program fee for guests is $65; member fee is $60. To make advance reservations, mail a check to the Door County Historical Society office, PO Box 71, Sturgeon Bay 54235 by Feb. 20. For more information, call 920.421.2332 or email [email protected].