Maritime Speaker Series: Between Boats and Brews

Captain Pabst’s Interesting Career Switch in Wisconsin

Sturgeon Bay, Wis. (April 19, 2023) – The next presentation of the Door County Medical Center Maritime Speaker Series will be held both in person and online on Thursday, May 4 at 7pm,featuring “Between Boats and Brews: Captain Pabst’s Interesting Career Switch in Wisconsin ” presented by Dave Fehlauer, President of the Pabst Mansion Volunteer Council. 

Pabst Blue Ribbon is certainly a household name in beer. Frederick Pabst’s family immigrated to Chicago from Germany in 1848, and Pabst grew up and eventually married into the Best family, an established family of brewers in Milwaukee. Before marrying into the brewing industry, however, Captain Pabst operated vessels on the Great Lakes. Join us for a late “happy hour” as we learn about the life of Captain Pabst, his extensive maritime career, and his fascinating midlife career change from boats to brews.

More information, and a link to register for online presentations, is available at www.dcmm.org/education/maritime-speaker-series/. ​​​​​​​

Dave Fehlauer is a former educator and school administrator. His interest in history and historic buildings led him to the Pabst Mansion as a docent and lecturer. He enjoys sharing the story of this iconic landmark and the Pabst legacy and has made presentations to universities, conferences, and conventions, as well as area libraries and social organizations.

Each Fall, Winter and Spring, the Door County Maritime Museum hosts experts and interesting characters from around the country for the Maritime Speaker Series (presented in partnership with series sponsor the Door County Medical Center). 

The Maritime Speaker Series offers an assortment of monthly programs – from historical topics to current issues affecting the Great Lakes and the economy that relies on them.

The Door County Medical Center Maritime Speaker Series programs are held the first Thursday of each month, October through May, beginning at 7pm, on the second floor of the Museum in Sturgeon Bay, as well as online. There is no cost to attend; we suggest bringing a donation of a non-perishable food item, or if watching online, we ask you to donate to your local food pantry.

Additional in-kind support for the Door County Medical Center Maritime Speaker Series is provided by Bridgeport Resort. 

For questions about the Maritime Speaker Series, please email Andrea Stromeyer, Educational Programs Coordinator, at astromeyer@dcmm.org.