A monument to those who died in the fire is located at Tornado Park, north of Brussels on Highway 57. Other ethnic settlements on the peninsula include the Scandinavian communities at and around Sister Bay and the Moravians at Ephraim. Farming, fishing and logging were the primary occupations of the early settlers in the county. Today, tourism is Door County's main industry. Visitors can learn more about the county's fascinating history by visiting some of the museums located throughout the county.
Lighthouses are an important, even critical, part of Door County's colorful maritime history.
Much of the county's more than 250 miles of shoreline is rocky. This presented ship captains with potentially deadly challenges. The need for lighthouses, as well as other navigational aids, became increasingly important as the county became a center of maritime commerce. Door County has 10 lighthouses, more than any other county in the United States. Before the advent of electric lighting, oil fires were the main source of illumination.