A Center for History, Education and Community
The preservation of this iconic Sister Bay barn has given us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a new community gathering space in a truly historic setting. Imagine concerts, educational programs, community meetings, and even an expanded Christmas market in a space that also has engaging and immersive exhibits about the people and places of our past.
The History of the Little Sister Barn
When the 102-year-old Little Sister Resort was sold in 2020, its 24 buildings were slated for demolition, including the Little Sister Barn, and the end of that chapter of Sister Bay History was nearly written.
The property and the buildings were beloved in Sister Bay, and they had a storied beginning. In 1870, a Norwegian immigrant, Gunnar Endreson, had purchased 108 acres of wild timber land along the shores of Little Sister Bay. He did not have the cash, so the deal was done for five hundred and fifty bushels of potatoes, valued at 75 cents per bushel, to be delivered over a three-year period – a value of $412.50.
Grant Anderson, one of Gunnar’s sons, eventually bought the property, and after fishing and farming, he turned to the budding tourist market. In 1918, Grant and his wife Lydia started a “resort” by lodging and feeding a few guests at their farmhouse. The following year, he built the structure now known as the Little Sister Barn to help support the farm and resort.
The sale of this historic property in 2020 marked the end of a unique Door County resort, but the beginning of a remarkable preservation effort. Concerned that this piece of history could end in a landfill, a small group formed and quickly saw two important possibilities: the use of the Little Sister Barn by the Sister Bay Historical Society, and the preservation of a number of the resort cabins and other buildings to meet the chronic need for local employee housing.
A grassroots fundraising effort quickly took off and included a wide variety of supporters – locals who fondly remembered the resort, and the barn dances and other activities that had taken place at the Barn; friends from outside Door County; and even the Village of Sister Bay itself.
Since the Barn was moved, additional fundraising – including a grant from Destination Door County’s Community Investment Fund and the Raibrook Foundation – has helped secure the Barn on a new foundation and weatherize it in preparation for its next phase, the repurposing of the interior.
Plans for this historic structure include retaining a portion of the rustic interior, while adding more contemporary, climate-controlled space for educational programs, community events, historic exhibits, and digital archives. The fundraising for this next phase is now under way.
“It takes a village to pull off something this extraordinary,” said John Lijewski, Sister Bay Historical Society board president, “and we’re inspired by the community’s continued support for this remarkable preservation effort.”
For more information about the project, contact the Sister Bay Historical Society at sisterbayhistoricalsociety@gmail.com, or John Lijewski at 920-421-4240.
A Center for History, Education and Community
Over $650,000 has been raised from a variety of sources to support this project – the Village of Sister Bay, grants from Destination Door County, the Raibrook Foundation and others, and generous contributions from a large group of individuals and businesses who believe in the vision for this project.
The project has three phases:
• Phase One (complete): Move the Barn to the Corner of the Past
• Phase Two (complete): Secure the Barn on its new foundation
• Phase Three (in progress): Construct silo, utilities annex, and barn interior; install interior amenities (lighting, exhibits, technology); patio and landscaping
The Current Work
In 2026, the primary focus is on strengthening the interior structural system. This work is required to meet building code standards and to ensure the facility can support future development plans.
Work on reinforcing the roof’s structural system is shown in the provided photograph. Next is the installation of a steel beam, which will span from the south end of the barn to the north end. This beam will become the main support for the new interior structure. It will establish the stability and foundation required for future construction activities and for installing new flooring underlayment. In turn, the underlayment will enable the reinstallation of the original plank flooring, preserving the Barn’s historic character.
An additional fundraising campaign will be needed for the remaining work, and will be under way soon. Every contribution will be gratefully acknowledged.
Please go to the Donate page by clicking the link below.