For many, the Door County Classic and Wooden Boat show is an opportunity to head to the Door County Maritime Museum and look at many classic boats you may not see on an average day. For the owners of the boats, special connections make it more than that. 

When walking into the parking lot of the museum, the feel of the history of the boats that were on display was unmatched. The 2023 marque of the year was the Thompson boat, which are Peshtigo-produced boats. Many boat owners would talk to the audience about what made the boat special to them, with many different reasons and examples being shared. One common theme however from many boat owners, was how it was the first boat that the owner and their family had and spent their time on. 

That theme was represented well at the boat show, as many father-son duos were able to build their own boat on Saturday, and then on Sunday test their crafting skills with an opportunity to race them out on the water. The Door County Classic and Wooden Boat Show is much more than just an opportunity to showcase off classic boats, some even dating back to the 70’s, it is about the memories that were and are still being created with the event.