Newspaper Search

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 Lighter Rip Rap 1923-12-21 12 Wintering in Kewaunee
Door County Advocate Scow Rip Rap 1911-07-20 1 Launched
Door County Advocate Scow Rip Rap 1913-07-24 1 In port
Door County Advocate Scow Rip Rap 1913-09-04 1 Loaded at the Green quarry
Door County Advocate Scow Rip Rap 1912-06-06 1 Loading at S. B. Stone Co. quarry
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Barge Rip Ray 1911-11-10 8 One of many vessels in the harbor of Kewaunee giving the harbor quite an animated appearance.
Manitowoc Pilot Ripon 1 Hull Number 114 launched by Manitowoc shipyard.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Sloop Rippling Wave 1883-05-17 3 The sloop Rippling Wave, of Bailey's Harbor, is in port loaded with butter and eggs awaiting favorable winds for sailing north.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner Rippling Wave 1883-05-24 3 The Rippling Wave, of Bailey's Harbor, was in port yesterday. She took on a cargo of eggs, butter and potatoes for northern ports.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Sloop Rippling Wave 1882-08-03 3 Lay in port. Her owner and commander took the opportunity to re-paint the craft, thereby improving her outward appearance.

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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.

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