Discover How the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Changed Door County

Join us for an evening of history, good food, and community connection. The 2025 Dine & Discover series continues on Monday, August 25, with Capt. Robert (Bob) Desh, USCG (Retired) as our guest speaker. A respected maritime historian and former Executive Director of the Door County Maritime Museum, Capt. Desh will guide us through the story of one of the region’s most transformative feats: the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal.

We’ll gather at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor. Doors open at 5:30 PM, with a hearty Italian-themed dinner served at 6:00 PM—featuring chicken parmesan, meat lasagna, Caesar salad, warm bread, cookies, brownies, coffee, and water—followed by Capt. Desh’s presentation. Be sure to register by August 18 to reserve your seat. Tickets are $40 per person, or $35 for DCHS members.

The Story Behind the Canal
This canal was initiated on July 8, 1872, by a private company led by William B. Ogden, then President of the Chicago Northwestern Railway. It was completed in late fall of 1881, with an expenditure of $291,461.69 up to that point. In 1893, the private company sold the canal to the U.S. Government—it’s now maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District.

Originally, the canal measured approximately 7,400 ft (2.3 km) in length, 100 ft (32 m) in width, and 6 ft (1.9 m) deep. Today, it’s dredged much deeper—around 25 to 30 ft (8 m)—and features a jetty at its mouth that extends 1,350 ft (410 m) into Lake Michigan and spans 800 ft (242 m) wide. This shortcut offers significant time savings for vessels from Milwaukee and Chicago, enabling them to bypass the northern loop around the peninsula. Sturgeon Bay itself is a natural bay on the east side of Green Bay, meaning only a short navigable cut was needed to link to Lake Michigan. (Source: American Canal Society.)

Why Attend?
This evening offers more than just history—it’s about experiencing how infrastructure shaped Door County’s economic and maritime evolution. It’s your chance to connect with neighbors, enjoy local flavor, and explore the stories that shaped our region in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

Support Our Mission
As always, your participation and membership are vital. If you can’t attend yet still wish to support our work—especially the restoration of Eagle Bluff Light Station and other preservation and programming efforts—donations of any amount are deeply appreciated. Every gift helps our organization grow. We hope to see you there, and thank you for helping keep Door County’s past alive for the future.