Sturgeon Bay, Wis. (December 12, 2023) – 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 next presentation of the 2023-2024 Door County Medical Center Maritime Speaker Series will be held both in person and online on Thursday, January 4 at 7pm,featuring The Search for the Linda E, presented by Brennan Christianson, DCMM Collections Coordinator.
December 11, 1998 was a calm and sunny day on Lake Michigan. Three experienced commercial anglers – two from Door County – had traveled six miles from the Port Washington, WI shore to catch chubs. When they failed to appear at the dock after three days, it became clear that they were never coming back. Searchers found no trace of the boat – no debris, bodies, or even an oil slick. It was the beginning of the eighteen-month long search for the Linda E. Join Brennan for the story of this Great Lakes tragedy that continues to resonate to this day.
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.
Brennan Christianson is the Collection Coordinator for the Door County Maritime Museum. After graduating with his Bachelors from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a Major in History and Minors in Humanities and German, Brennan attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for his Masters in Public History and a certificate in Museum Studies.
More information, and a link to register for online presentations, is available at https://dcmm.org/seaperch/maritime-speaker-series/ .
Remaining 2023-2024 Speaker Series Lineup
- February 1: Native Canoes in Wisconsin, presented by Sissel Schroeder and Tammy Thompson.
- March 7: Freshwater Fisheries, presented by Dr. Karen Murchie, Shedd Aquarium.
- April 4: Bridging the Gap: The History of the Sturgeon Bay Railroad Bridge , presented by Daniel Liedtke, National Railroad Museum
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.