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 | Josiphene | 1876-10-05 | 8 | Cleared Ahnapee Oct. 5. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Hooker | Josiphene | 1876-10-05 | 8 | Is in port to purchase a cargo of butter and potatoes. Farmers having them to sell can dispose of them by visiting her. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Jovilas | 1865-08-24 | 3 | Cargo of cord wood | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | Joy | 1899-05-06 | 1 | Iron to be used on new stone scow | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Joyce | 1887-04-07 | 3 | Cleared the Kewaunee port Monday and Tuesday. 8000 ties for Jos. Duvall & Co. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Steambarge | Joyce | 1893-12-21 | 3 | Was in port on Mon. and took a cargo of flour, feed and other freight across the lake. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Joyce | 1913-04-17 | 1 | Receiving repairs | |
| Door County Advocate | Steambarge | Joys | 1893-11-04 | 5 | Windbound | |
| Door County Advocate | Propeller | Joys | 1892-12-17 | 5 | 50 round trips between Menominee + Milw. | |
| Door County Advocate | Steambarge | Joys | 1892-10-22 | 5 | Info on season |
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.