In 2026 the Door County Historical Society will reach a remarkable milestone—our 100th anniversary! Since its founding on October 1, 1926, the Society has worked to collect, maintain, and share the rich history of Door County through preservation, education, and programming.
Looking back at our beginnings, the Society’s rapid growth was a testament to the community’s passion for history. As recorded in The Peninsula publication in 1948:
“On October 1, 1926, twenty persons met in the courthouse at Sturgeon Bay to consider the question of organizing a historical society. All but one of the persons present were in favor of the idea, and the Society was launched. It had a rapid growth. Three months later it counted 120 members, and before the first year had passed it had 190 paid memberships. Of these, 30 were life members at $25.00 each, 64 sustaining members at $5.00 each and 96 associate members at $1.50 each. By Christmas, 1927, after fifteen months of growth, the Society had 222 paying members—probably the largest enrollment of any county historical society in the state at that time.”
As we approach this significant anniversary, we want to celebrate the people, places, and stories that have shaped the Society over the past century. We invite you to be part of the excitement! We are forming a 100th Anniversary Committee to help organize special events, exhibits, and programs for 2026. If you have ideas, skills, or enthusiasm for history, we want you to join us in making this celebration one to remember.
Whether you’ve been a member for years or are just discovering the Society, there has never been a better time to get involved. Together, we can honor the past while building a strong future for the next century of historic preservation in Door County.
If you are interested in joining the planning committee or learning more about the anniversary celebrations, please reach out to us at office@doorcountyhistoricalsociety.org or 920-421-2332.