Visit Wisconsin's Maritime Trails

Built in 1868 and the first brick home in Oconto County, today the Beyer Home Museum has been completely restored in Victorian era fashion. Several exhibits inside the house focus on the maritime history of the area, examining both ice and open water fishing practices on nearby Lake Michigan, displaying fishing nets and tools, and showcasing German and Scandinavian shipbuilding tools from the early 19th century. Another exhibit examines European settlers involvement with the area's indigenous Native Americans, with a 19th century birchbark canoe as the centerpiece.

In the museum's entrance room is a circa 1900 model of the steamboat Hart, carved by Cyrus A. Hart, the owner of a steamship line along Green Bay's western shore. In the urban barn and garage behind the museum are stored several antique carriages and electric cars, as well as a Menominee Indian dugout canoe from the first half of the 19th century.

The museum makes for an interesting look at this small town's history, both on the water and off. Contact the museum for further details.