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 | Schooner | Dawn | 1881-04-28 | 3 | Departed the past week. Milwaukee, 4000 posts for F. Swaty & Son. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Scow | Dawn | 1903-09-25 | 1 | Missed the piers at Kewaunee, during the heavy blow last Saturday, and went on the beach, and is said to be a total loss. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Dawn | 1881-08-11 | 3 | Shipments from this port. Milwaukee, 5000 posts. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Dawn | 1903-09-26 | 1 | Wrecked at Kewaunee | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Dawn | 1891-08-27 | 3 | Capsized off Port Washington Sunday morning. The crew was rescued by the steam barge John Schroeder. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Day | 1870-08-11 | 3 | Specifics on cargo | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Bark | Day | 1868-11-13 | 1 | Run down and dismasted scow Swallow | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Day Spring | 1899-06-03 | 1 | In Grand Haven minus some canvas | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Day Spring | 1899-08-26 | 1 | Windbound | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Day Spring | 1901-09-21 | 1 | Cleared with cargo of sawdust |
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.