Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michigan Ship Canal

Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michigan Ship Canal. . This canal was the dream of Joseph Harris, Sr., "the Father of the Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michigan Ship Canal." His intent was not only to provide a shorter and safer route for sailing vessels, but to also become rich by selling building lots along the canal in the town of "Harrisburg" that would surely result along the lake end of the canal. After much work, lobbying, and a change in the canal location, a state charter was granted in 1864 to his Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michigan Ship Canal and Harbor Company to begin work three-quarters of a mile south of the projected "Harrisburg." Harris never realized a financial gain on the sale of his property and "Harrisburg" was never built. , In 1871 the federal government constructed a harbor of refuge on Lake Michigan at the place where the canal would emerge. Construction of a lighthouse and fog signal at the end of the breakwater was recommended in 1873, but the light was not built until 1882. , Construction of the canal began on July 8, 1872, but the Depression of 1873 held up the work for three years. Construction resumed in 1877 and on June 28, 1878 at 7:30 p.m. the final shovelsful of dirt were removed to allow the mixing of the waters of Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michigan. There is little written record about the canal laborers, but we do know a fair number of local men were hired along with "men from the outside recruited by promises of good wages." , The first loaded ship towed through the canal was the three-masted schooner "America" bound for Chicago in 1879 with a load of lumber. It would take another four years to complete the 7,400-foot canal to the specifications needed for the sailing vessels of the 1880s to safely use the canal. , The first full year of operation in 1882 showed 415 ships passing through the canal. Ten years later that number had increased nearly tenfold to 3,949. During the early years of the canal, a tow charge was levied on ships passing through. , Local tug owners provided towing services for the ships using the canal and competition was keen as whoever got to a ship first got the job. The ship owners found that they could split the charges by linking up and being towed through in a group. The "Big Tow" shows a group of six sailing ships joined by tow ropes in their passage through the canal. , The completion of the canal reduced the trip distance from Green Bay to Milwaukee and Chicago by 150 miles and eliminated the dangerous journey through Death's Door passage at the tip of the Door Peninsula. , For more information about maritime history in Door County visit the Door County Maritime Museum and Lighthouse Preservation Society, Inc. , CANAL FACTS AT A GLANCE , Construction began in 1872 , Waters connected in 1878 , Full operation of canal in 1882 , Canal length: 7,400 feet , Canal width: 100 feet , Canal depth: 22 feet , Costs , Excavation: $229,867.32 , Docking, revetment, etc.: $24,113.71 , Civil Engineer: $37,489.66 , TOTAL: $291,461.69 , This informational sign was made possible by a joint effort of the Door County Historical Society and the DCMM&LPS Maritime Friends.