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 | Metropolis | 1916-12-08 | 1 | One of vessels which wrecked on reef off Stoney Creek. In the late seventies the lumber schooner Metropolis, light bound, Chicago to Menominee hit the reef, but was released. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Metropolis | 1881-04-28 | 3 | First sail arrival at this port | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Metropolis | 1873-06-19 | 3 | To Chicago with posts for W. H. Wead | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Metropolis | 1878-09-26 | 3 | Damaged in storm | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Metropolis | 1875-12-16 | 8 | In this port with an immense cargo of merchandise and loaded with wheat. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Metropolis | 1881-04-28 | 3 | The schooner Metropolis, ran on the reef off Foscoro. The tug Martin succeeded in releasing her on Tuesday. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Metropolis | 1881-05-05 | 3 | Receiving 7 cents for ties to Chicago | |
| Door County Advocate | Propeller | Metropolis | 1875-04-08 | 3 | Plying on L. Superior | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Metropolis | 1901-04-12 | 1 | The Milwaukee Journal stated that the steamer Metropolis will operate between Milwaukee and Algoma this season, in conjunction with the Barry line. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Metzner | 1891-08-01 | 5 | Loading lumber at Whitefish Bay |
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.