A Southern Door roadside chapel. File photo.
The Belgian Heritage Center (BHC), located at 1255 Cty DK in Namur, will host the kickoff event for Door County History Days on June 16, 9 am – 12 pm.
This year’s theme is preservation, and the event will bring together historical organizations from across the county for a morning of community, learning and celebration.
The morning begins at 9 am with a presentation by Destination Door County introducing the new Heritage Trail Pass app, a digital tool designed to help users explore local museums and history-rich sites. Participants can earn rewards through app engagement, encouraging deeper exploration of Door County’s heritage.
Guests will also hear brief updates from historical organizations, including the BHC, on their ongoing preservation projects. Attendees are invited to explore the BHC campus and view curated exhibits during the free event.
Also part of the History Days celebration, the BHC will host a special presentation, “Preserving the Roadside Chapel Tradition,” on June 19, 1-3 pm.
Local historian Barb (Englebert) Chisholm will highlight the origin and evolution of roadside chapels – votive buildings unique to the Belgian settlements of northeast Wisconsin. Chisholm will share the stories behind these structures and how this cultural tradition has been kept alive through the generations.
Following the presentation, guests may take a guided tour of the BHC or visit nearby chapels, where BHC docents will be on hand to provide insight into both historic and modern examples of these landmarks.