Country United States Town Gibraltar Population 997 (2010) Area code 920 | County Door Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6) Local time Sunday 9:59 AM | |
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Weather -8°C, Wind N at 13 km/h, 70% Humidity Points of interest Peninsula State Park, Eagle Bluff Light, Chambers Island, Alexander Noble House, Horseshoe Island | ||
Fish Creek is an unincorporated community located in Door County, Wisconsin, United States, within the town of Gibraltar and is located on Highway 42 along Green Bay.
Contents
Map of Fish Creek, WI 54212, USA
History
The first settler of Fish Creek was Increase Claflin and his family circa 1844, but the village founder is considered to be entrepreneur Asa Thorp. Loggers and fishermen started settling in Fish Creek in 1853. Thorp owned much of the area's land by that year, and built Fish Creek's first dock in 1855. Fish Creek's oldest unchanged residence, the Alexander Noble House, was built in 1874 and today is on the National Register of Historic Places. By 1900, summer tourists were frequently visiting the village, and Fish Creek became a resort community.
Fish Creek is also adjacent to Peninsula State Park, and its main entrance is in the village. The park has a cream city brick lighthouse built in 1866. Eagle Bluff Lighthouse is fully restored, furnished with fine antiques, as it looked in the 19th Century, and is open daily for tours in the summer months. Door County also holds the title of the "county with more lighthouses than any other in the country". The great advantage of the almost 4,000-acre (16 km2) park is that it is the main view from Fish Creek Harbor. The fact that it will never be developed is a great asset to the community. The view of Weborg Point is spectacular, with the huge Gibraltar Bluff looming behind the village. The Department of Natural Resources has also worked to encourage a return of eagles, which were once almost extinct; Eagle Bluff is now the home to a number of nesting pairs.
With a fairly large art community, Fish Creek has always attracted artists and craftspeople. It is home to one of the last remaining clockmakers in the State of Wisconsin. Many studios sell artwork and are open to the public. The village is also home to the Peninsula School of the Arts, founded by Madeline Tourtelot in 1965. Classes in most of the arts are available in the summer months. Not far from the Art School, the Door County Auditorium hosts performing artists from all over the country. It is accessible to the local high school so that students may take advantage of the stage for their own productions.
Historical landmarks
Education
Gibraltar Area Schools serves Fish Creek. Gibraltar Elementary School and Gibraltar Secondary School are the two schools.