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 | Schooner | Milwaukee Belle | 1882-04-06 | 3 | Had to be towed from pier - damaged | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Milwaukee Belle | 1877-09-13 | 3 | Ran into the Fleetwing | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-08-18 | 3 | Leathem & Smith will attempt to release the Milwaukee Belle, recently purchased and ashore at Spider Island. | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-09-15 | 3 | Jack-screws have been placed under her since two tugs and a barge were unable to release her. | ||
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-08-27 | 3 | Expedition fitted out to rescur her - more info later | |
| Door County Advocate | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-09-24 | 3 | To abandon the work of releasing this spring | ||
| Door County Advocate | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-09-10 | 3 | Jack-screws raising her | ||
| Door County Advocate | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-12-10 | 3 | To be repaired during winter | ||
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Milwaukee Belle | 1869-10-21 | 1 | Towed in by tug Kitty Smoke - mainsail and foresail torn to ribbons | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-08-18 | 3 | Leatham & Smith working to release schooner, ashore at Beaver Island |
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.