After it quietly reopened this spring, you can be a little more boisterous on Tuesday when the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society hosts a community climb and celebration for the Potawatomi State Park Observation Tower. After it was closed in 2017 due to deteriorating conditions, the state settled on repairing the structure in 2024 at the behest of the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society, State Senator Andre Jacque, State Representative Joel Kitchens, and other advocates, including international timber expert Dr. Dan Tingley and Wm. Jason Flatt. Its resurrection came with controversy, with some state officials arguing that it needed to be ADA-accessible like the new Eagle Tower. The state eventually opted to set aside some space for a scenic outlook for those who want to gaze upon the state park but cannot climb the tower. When it reopened, resident Dave Allen said that the view proved that some things are worth fighting for in the end.
As a part of the day’s events, the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society will host a community climb from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. before inviting people back to the Door County Granary, where Flatt and Tingley will talk about the tower’s history. For more information about the event, please see below.
