Anderson Dock (Ephraim in Door County, WI)

Door County, Wisconsin is one of the greatest places to travel to in the Midwest. There are so many neat little towns in Door County and so many things to see and do – swimming, hiking, shopping, sight-seeing, boating, dining, and the list goes on and on.

I’ve been to Door County twice now (both times during the summer), and I can’t wait to go back again! The first time I went I took a solo trip and the second time I brought a friend along who had never been before. The first time I went to Door County I stayed in Ephraim, WI and I have to say this cute little town is probably one of my favorites in Door County. A long walking path right up along Lake Michigan with benches to sit and take in the beautiful view, ice cream at Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, shopping products made from locally grown lavender plants at Island Lavender Farm Market, souvenir shopping at Beach People Ephraim, and of course, Anderson Dock.

I look forward to sharing all of these fun places with you throughout Oh for fun! Midwest, and today we start with Anderson Dock. I’m not sure how I missed this unique place during my first visit to Door County, but when I returned home, I found @ephraim_wi on Instagram and learned about Anderson Dock. When planning my second visit to Door County I knew for sure I had to see it – it is one of the neatest places!

Anderson Dock is listed on the State Register and National Register of Historic Places. According to The State Trunk Tour, the dock is named after early Ephraim settlers, Aaslag and Halvor Anderson, who bought 166 acres to own in 1858. Their intention was to build a deep-water dock for both community and visitor use, which worked well. By 1890 Ephraim was a standard port-of-call for visiting steamships, bringing summer vacationers who would bring money into the local economy.

Anderson Dock is one of the most posted places on Instagram in Door County – I know I have a few photos posted on Instagram and Facebook! 😊 Walk around it, observe the names, colors, and the beauty of Anderson Dock. The exterior walls have been decorated with the names of boaters who signed their names, or their boats’ names, as they pulled up to Ephraim. The Nikki Lynn Design website states that messages have been left for a variety of reasons, including letting loved ones know they were safe traveling the sometimes-uncertain waters of Lake Michigan’s Death’s Door.

The tradition is still carried out today. A posted sign on the side of Anderson Dock states that historically, visiting boaters have “signed” the warehouse walls with their boat’s name and year (or years) they have docked there. Boaters and visitors are encouraged to continue the tradition by being creative, but tasteful, when adding their nautical names to the wall.

Travelers by boat and even car, continue come out to leave their mark. My friend and I came by car, of course, parking down the road a bit and taking in all the beautiful flowers on our walk to the dock. We enjoyed reading some of the previous messages left. There were marriage proposals, birth announcements, wedding announcements, and tourist messages from all over. Some messages even stopped me in my tracks and tugged at my heart. I also left my mark on the dock by leaving my name – I know, creative right? Haha! Anyways, I thought this was the coolest thing!

I found this website, Luke Collins Photography, that has a beautiful display of pictures of Anderson Dock. I encourage you to see them for yourself!

These days Anderson Dock holds an art museum called The Hardy Gallery. Patrons can enjoy exhibits of local and regional artists, see the nationally recognized Community Mosaic Project, and enjoy the Door County Plein Air Festival. The gallery has been a pillar of the Door County art community since the mid-1900s, providing visibility to new and established artists who may or may not have outside gallery representation. Over the years, the organization has grown from a small, volunteer-run facility to a multifaceted non-profit organization that draws more than 14,500 visitors annually, serves over 750 artists and youth each year, and manages 75 volunteers. This gallery has some great art! I really enjoyed walking through it and taking in all the beautiful pieces. The gallery’s website has further information about programs and events.

Once you’ve checked out the Anderson Dock and The Hardy Gallery, be sure to head across the street to the Anderson House Shop & Gallery. The store specializes in unique goods and is located in the historic Aaslag Anderson homestead. You will find a wide variety of jewelry, home and garden accessories, a fine line of soaps and lotions, and much more. When we visited the shop, I found a lovely picture of the Anderson Dock that I currently have hanging in my home. I love it so much!

The next time you’re in Door County be sure to visit Anderson Dock in Ephraim, WI!