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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manitowoc Pilot | Steamer | Christopher Columbus | 1895-10-24 | 3 | Said that it will be taken to New York, there to engage in the excursion business. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Whaleback | Christopher Columbus | 1897-04-01 | 3 | To go into passenge trade between Milw. and Chicago. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Whaleback | Christopher Columbus | 1897-07-22 | 3 | Collided in Milwaukee harbor with Virginia. Both received damage | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Christopher Columbus | 1897-09-02 | 3 | Captains of the Virginia and Christopher Columbus suspended for 30 days due to collision. | ||
| Manitowoc Pilot | Whaleback | Christopher Columbus | 1898-02-10 | 3 | Sold or not sold is a question. Captain McDougall says negotiation in progress. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Whaleback | Christopher Columbus | 1898-09-29 | 3 | The whaleback has gone into winte quarters up the river. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Whaleback | Christopher Columbus | 1898-10-06 | 4 | Will have considerable work done this winter. She will have seveal state rooms put in. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Christopher Columbus | 1898-12-29 | 4 | Doubtful whether she can get into the dry dock. | ||
| Manitowoc Pilot | Christopher Columbus | 1899-06-01 | 8 | Will open the season somewhat earlier than in former years. | ||
| Manitowoc Pilot | Christopher Columbus | 1899-06-08 | 5 | Large sheriff sectional wheel is being put on this week. |
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.