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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Dauntless | 1895-11-30 | 5 | Went to pieces near Port Huron - taken off | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Dautless | 1897-01-02 | 1 | Lost on the Lakes During 1896 | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Motor boat | Davella | 1909-07-23 | 1 | When some distance north of the harbor some part of the engine gave out and the crew had to drop anchor due to heavy sea. Engine was repaired and she came into this port. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | David A. Wells | 1880-10-21 | 3 | The schooner David A. Wells, foundered and sank off Chicago, with all hands on board. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | David A. Wells | 1894-03-17 | 5 | Sold the whole for $1,800 | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | David A. Wells | 1879-12-25 | 3 | Missing for some time | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | David A. Wells | 1880-10-28 | 1 | The schooner foundered near Chicago, six miles from shore, on the 15th. The wreck lies in seven fathoms of water. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | David A. Wells | 1880-10-21 | 3 | Lost near Chicago - every man on board perished | ||
| Door County Advocate | Schooneer | David A. Wells | 1899-09-09 | 1 | Became waterlogged | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | David B. Norton | 1911-09-07 | 1 | Stranded at Whitefish bay point |
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.