Historical Society Presents ‘Peninsula State Park in Postcards’ Oct. 7

Postcard of the first tower built in Peninsula State Park. Submitted.

The Door County Historical Society will host its Saturday afternoon yesteryear programming “Peninsula State Park in Postcards,” presented by Richard Lauder on Oct. 7, 2 pm in the Vignes Schoolhouse at the Heritage Village at 2041 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay.

Officially established in 1910, Peninsula State Park is an ever-changing location on the Door County peninsula. Through his collection of postcards, Lauder has created a “rare Peninsula Park experience, no longer available to today’s visitors.” The presentation will include a visual display of postcards with sound effects and messages written long ago. Using the old postcards as touchstones to illustrate stories of the past, Lauder has spent the time and effort to reveal the treasured history of the Park.

Lauder grew up in Door County. In the early 1960s, he operated the Summer Solstice Art Gallery in Fish Creek and continues to pursue his favorite profession as a watercolorist. After retiring from the Verona High School art department, he became interested in the historic postcards and written history of Door County. Collecting postcards over the past 40 years, he has acquired more than 700 Peninsula Park cards. His interest in history and his artistic skillset developed this program into a “visual trip back in time.”

This program does not have an admission fee, but an offering will be taken to support the restoration and accessibility of the Vignes School. Heritage Village is open prior to the presentation, and on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm. Adult Heritage Village admission is $6. For more information visit DoorCountyHistoricalSociety.org.