OUR FACILITIES

Crossroads at Big Creek has numerous indoor and outdoor spaces to accommodate all kinds of events, celebrations, classes and exhibits.

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The Collins Learning Center provides a dedicated space for the presentation of classes and lectures, lab space for research and investigations, and three exhibit spaces. The space is fully accessible, with handicapped restrooms and an elevator to all levels. This space can be rented for weddings, memorial services and other gatherings.

The Auditorium

The Science Lab

The science laboratory provides five lab stations with water, electricity, and computer ports; a teacher demonstration table; a hood, storage areas, and lab and field equipment for examining and testing specimens and samples. During the summer, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, in collaboration with the Door County Public Health Department and Door County Soil and Water, use Crossroads’ lab to test the water quality of Lake Michigan and the Bay of Green Bay from samples taken at Door County beaches.

The Kitchen

Exhibits

The Great Lakes Ecosystem display is located on the entry level of the Collins Learning Center. It shows examples of native and non-native species found in Lake Michigan and Green Bay.

The Escarpment Display is located in the hallway on the entry level of the Center. This display features the karst systems of the Niagara Escarpment, with spectacular reproductions of several Door County caves.

The Wisconsin Wildlife Exhibit, located in the lower level of the Learning Center, shows wildlife of northeast Wisconsin throughout the day, the seasons, and various habitats of Door County.

Lower Level Learning Space

Outdoor spaces are available to gather and explore.

The Heritage Garden at Crossroads

A heritage garden along the East side of the General store at the Heritage village. Since then, members of the Garden Club and the Door County Master Gardeners have tended the garden.

This vintage garden closely resembles what was typical in the era 1890-1910, with heirloom plants. No pesticides or modern-era fertilizers are used. Outside the garden fence, the beds combine perennial and annual flowers with medicinal plants. The effect has the look of a cottage garden. It blooms continuously through the season, offering visitors to Crossroads a vibrant show of color. The gate to the garden is framed by morning glories and hops that intertwine over the archway. A birdhouse on the General Store wall is often occupied in the spring by a wren and her brood.

Anyone is welcome to come and enjoy the rustic garden free of charge. Visitors can get up close to varieties of vegetables not often grown today and reacquaint themselves with flowers from a bygone era.

The Amphitheater

Council Ring

The Astronomy Campus, located in the southeast corner of Crossroads’ main campus just off Utah Street, is managed collaboratively by Crossroads, the School District of Sturgeon Bay, and the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society.

The Leif Everson Observatory

The Leif Everson Observatory houses a PlaneWave Instruments 17-inch f/6.8 Corrected Dall-Kirkam Astrograph telescope on a state-of-the-art L-500 mount for tracking performance for astrophotography. The observatory dome is mechanically synchronized to move in coordination with the telescope. The observatory is owned by the School District of Sturgeon Bay and also houses a weather station.

The StarGarden

Built by volunteers from Crossroads, the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society and the Peninsula Art School, The StarGarden is used for night sky viewing. Walkways are made from recycled materials and are lit with red lamps for improved night vision. “The Expanding Universe” includes six parallelogram-type mounts on piers for astronomical binoculars. These assist beginners who can view pre-located and focused celestial objects.

The center area, “The Ringed Planet,” includes seating areas and a grassy mound for reclined viewing, perfect for meteor showers. Concrete pads enable amateur astronomers to set up small telescopes for outreach activities. Electric outlets are available for those with computer-driven mounts and other devices.

Human Sundial

The Ray and Ruthie Stonecipher Astronomy Center

Funded and planned by Dr. Ray Stonecipher, the Stonecipher Astronomy Center (SAC) is located near the Leif Everson Observatory and StarGarden. It is the meeting space for the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society. The SAC is linked with the Observatory telescope, enabling visitors to view telescope images from the Observatory, and from observatories throughout the world, on an 80-inch flatscreen. DPAS also owns and operates an inflatable planetarium with a state-of-the-art Digitarium projection system which is used on cloudy nights, for daytime programs, and for public outreach in local schools and libraries.

Renewable Energy at Crossroads

Crossroads’ first solar array was installed in 2010 and produces 4100 kWh per year. A major objective of the project is to confirm to the public that solar energy works in Door County. If it can work in a much cloudier Germany, it can certainly work here. Without adding to our carbon footprint, we are making some of the energy we use at Crossroads, and thanks to Sturgeon Bay Utilities and Wisconsin Public Power solar energy buy-back, the value of those renewable electrons are tripled.

In the spring of 2012, Crossroads added its second solar collector, Pinwheel Galaxy, between the Leif Everson Observatory and Stonecipher Astronomy Center.

Electric Vehicle Chargers

"Crossroads makes every event special. The atmosphere – indoors and out – is welcoming and inspiring. The opportunities to learn and explore are endless."

Kathy S.

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OUR FACILITIES

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OUR FACILITIES

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