Gills Rock, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gills Rock, Wisconsin
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Aerial view in 2020
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 Gills Rock, Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Door |
| Town | Liberty Grove |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 920 |
Gills Rock is an unincorporated community located on Highway 42 at the northern tip of the Door Peninsula in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. It is within the town of Liberty Grove and was formerly known as Hedgehog Harbor.
History
This area is known to the Potawatomi as Wah-ya-qua-kah-me-kong, for "head of the land" or "land's end". Today the area is named for Elias Gill, a local 19th century landowner.
Gills Rock has a strong history and tradition of commercial fishing, which continues to this day. Death's Door Maritime Museum is located there. The area is also popular with scuba divers who explore the many shipwrecks in and around Death's Door, the narrow strait connecting Lake Michigan to Green Bay, also known as Porte des Morts. The Pilot Island Light is located on Pilot Island near Gills Rock.
Gills Rock is also the departure point of a passenger ferry to Washington Island. The vehicle ferry to Washington Island departs 2.25 miles (3.5 km) to the East, in Northport, Wisconsin
In popular culture
The town is the birthplace of fictional character Gwen Raiden from the TV series Angel.
Education
Gibraltar Area Schools serves the community. Gibraltar Elementary School and Gibraltar Secondary School are the two schools.
Climate
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Images for kids
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Looking north at downtown Gills Rock
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Sign on Wisconsin Highway 42
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Welcome sign
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Island Clipper ferry
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Gust Klenke's garage
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Fish tug Gem near Gills Rock, photo taken March 1973
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Fishing village at Gills Rock, published 1941
