Search below for stories about ships, lighthouses, sailors and anything else about life on Lake Michigan. The database contains references to articles from the Ahnapee (Algoma) Record (June 12, 1873 to Jan. 7, 1927), the Door County Advocate (Nov. 8, 1861 to Dec. 22, 1949), and the Manitowoc Pilot (June 14, 1859 to Dec. 28, 1899). The results will direct you to the date and page in these newspapers where the article can be found.
Microfilm copies of the Ahnapee (Algoma) Record are available at the Wisconsin Historical Society Library in Madison, Algoma Public Library in Algoma. Microfilm copies of the Door County Advocate are available at the Wisconsin Historical Society Library in Madison, the Door County Public Library in Sturgeon Bay, and the Brown County Library in Green Bay. Microfilm of the Manitowoc Pilot are available at the Manitowoc County Historical Society, the Manitowoc Public Library, and the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison.
Check with your local library about obtaining the microfilm via interlibrary loan.
| Newspaper | Object | Name | Date | Page | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Chicago | 1885-04-30 | 3 | The steamer Chicago was in port Friday evening. She was the first side-wheeler to arrive this season. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Chicago | 1885-05-14 | 3 | Arrived May 9, merchandise. Cleared May 9 merchandise. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Chicago | 1885-05-07 | 3 | In to the relief of fish buyers who had 8 or 10 tons of fish which they were anxious to ship. | |
| Door County Advocate | Side wheeler | Chicago | 1933-10-27 | 4 | Picture | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Chicago | 1881-09-15 | 3 | The Chicago only came as far north as Kewaunee on her last regular Sat. trip, and discharged freight and passengers for this city there. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Chicago | 1881-09-01 | 3 | The steamer Chicago made the trip to this port last Saturday. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Dry dock | Chicago | 1881-05-26 | 3 | Information on a new dry dock completed in Chicago. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Chicago | 1882-12-07 | 3 | Discharged large quantities of freight and took on a cargo of freight, consisting of grain, Christman trees, &c, for Milwaukee. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Chicago | 1882-08-03 | 3 | The was undergoing repairs in Manitowoc, the paddles on one of her wheels having been broken by striking a floating log. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Chicago | 1877-03-29 | 8 | The Goodrich steamers will probably commence running about the 15th of April. The fine steamers Chicago and Sheboygan will run along the west shore. |
This database is a cooperative effort of the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association (WUAA), the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS), and the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. The project is spearheaded by WUAA member Russel Leitz, who helped develop a framework for the database and painstakingly combed through 54 years of the Ahnapee (Algoma) Record, 87 years of the Door County Advocate and 40 years of the Manitowoc Pilot for maritime news. The more than 50,000 references are the fruit of his labor alone.