Reflecting Our Mission: The Meaning Behind Our New Logo

To kick off our 100th anniversary celebration, we are excited to share an important milestone: the unveiling of our new logo. Our previous logo served us well for many years, and this centennial moment gave us the perfect opportunity to refresh our visual identity while staying true to our mission.

We partnered with Osvaldo Lopez, a freelance graphic designer and UW–Green Bay graduate, to bring this vision to life. From the start, we set out to create a logo that reflects historical authenticity, local identity, and a style that feels both timeless and relevant. The design process drew deeply from Door County’s landscape and history.

At the heart of the logo is Porte des Morts, a name rooted in Potawatomi, French, and early European history that speaks to the powerful relationship between land and water that has shaped this region for centuries. Waves crashing into the bluff symbolize Porte des Morts and capture both the beauty and danger of Lake Michigan, along with the many stories tied to our shoreline.

The bluff itself carries special meaning. It represents the Niagara Escarpment—the ancient geological formation that quite literally created Door County. This defining feature shaped our landscape, influenced early settlement patterns, and continues to define the dramatic shoreline that makes the county so recognizable today.

The tree featured in the design adds another layer of meaning. It reflects the natural beauty that draws visitors to Door County year after year. It also acknowledges the early logging industry that attracted many European settlers and played a key role in the county’s early economy. At the same time, the tree loosely represents Door County’s cherry orchards, which by the 1950s supplied a large portion of the nation’s cherry crop and remain a lasting symbol of our agricultural heritage.

This element is especially meaningful given Osvaldo’s personal connection to that history. His parents were migrant workers in Door County’s cherry orchards and he grew up picking cherries alongside them. Now, Osvaldo has designed a logo that will represent the Door County Historical Society as it enters its second century—a powerful full-circle moment that reflects the enduring connections between people, place, and opportunity.

Early sketches focused on simplifying these ideas—land, water, and history—into a form that feels clear, recognizable, and adaptable across many uses. As the design evolved, we realized the story needed a human element. The addition of a lighthouse represents guidance, safety, and continuity, while also reflecting our role in preserving Door County’s maritime history.

The final design incorporates subtle art deco influences as a nod to our founding year of 1926, along with a border inspired by a ship’s porthole that reinforces our maritime roots. Together, these elements create a logo that honors place, history, and the people who have shaped Door County.

This new logo does more than update our look—it reflects our commitment to preserving the past while moving confidently into the future. As we celebrate our centennial year, donations help support our ongoing work and ensure the Door County Historical Society continues to grow, preserve, and share the stories that define our community. Let us know what you think—comment below.