STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Wednesday for a large expansion of the Door County Maritime Museum.
Volunteers, donors and the members of the Door County Maritime Museum board picked up shovels and placed them in the snow-covered dirt.
“I’m very enthusiastic about the project and we’ll look forward to its completion,” said Rich Dirks.
He was among those who decided to attend the groundbreaking. He volunteers at the museum with his wife.
“The more we can share with all the generations with what maritime life is all about, that’s a good thing.”
Bill Harder, museum board president, tells FOX 11 plans call for a 10-story lighthouse tower. An enclosed observation deck would allow visitors a 360-degree view of Sturgeon Bay.
“We’re going to have 10 floors inside of exhibits that are all interactive. All highly educational exhibits intended to stimulate the minds of young youth as well as older folks. It’s a 7 to 70 approach.”
He went on to say it’s important to dig a little deeper into Northeast Wisconsin’s maritime heritage.
“From the standpoint of the values that we’ve held. The high degrees of integrity, skilled craftsmen. Highly proficient engineers, architects, and designers that all worked here to build ships over the years.”
As of last month, $4.3 million had been raised toward what Harder said will be a $6.5 million project.
