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 | Harbor | Manitowoc | 1 | Contract for construction of four cribs for the breakwater. | ||
| Manitowoc Pilot | Harbor | Manitowoc | 5 | Tonnage for May at Manitowoc 200,099 in and 205,352 out. | ||
| Manitowoc Pilot | Sea wall | Manitowoc | 1 | Storm did considerable damage to sea wall under construction. | ||
| Manitowoc Pilot | Harbor | Manitowoc | 1 | Last crib on the breakwater has been put in place and the work is nearly completed. | ||
| Manitowoc Pilot | Harbor | Manitowoc | 5 | Comparing January tonnage arrival and clearance with last year. | ||
| Manitowoc Pilot | Harbor | Manitowoc | 1 | Tonnage record for July below record for same month last year. | ||
| Manitowoc Pilot | Harbor | Manitowoc | 1 | Comparing tonnage of vessels the last two years in the Eastern revenue district. | ||
| Manitowoc Pilot | Harbor | Manitowoc | 5 | 159 vessels carrying 130,000 tons entered and cleared during March | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Shipyard | Manitowoc | 1874-03-12 | 3 | Getting out vessel spars at Clay Banks. One was 165 feet and 5 feet at the "butt" | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Manitowoc | 1874-03-12 | 2 | Has been dismantled and old hull is being converted into a barge. |
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.