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 | Steamer | McVea | 1911-07-27 | 1 | Makes calls 6 times a week at Fish Creek | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | McVea | 1911-06-30 | 8 | The steamer McVea will bring up an excursion party from Manitowoc and Two Rivers on the Fourth. | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | McVea | 1929-11-01 | 9 | Used as drydock for small boats in Chicago | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | McVea | 1905-10-21 | 1 | Docked - being ironed off | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | McVee | 1902-10-11 | 1 | Docked for searching up + minor overhauling | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | McVittie | 1917-10-25 | 1 | Ran on shoal near Brockville Narrows | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | McWilliams | 1910-06-30 | 1 | In with coal | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Gasoline launch | Me Too | 1902-07-18 | 1 | The little gasoline launch "Me Too" of Kewaunee, with a party of gentlemen from that city on board was in port a few hours last Sunday. | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | Meacham | 1908-11-26 | 1 | Two repair bills add up to $150,000 for season | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Mead | 1915-12-16 | 1 | Arrived |
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.