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 | Tug | Rob. Mills | 1892-12-22 | 3 | In winter quarters at this place | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Sloop | Robbie | 1883-12-13 | 3 | The sloop Robbie lies in port loaded with christmas trees, for Milwaukee, and will sail as soon as the wind is favorable. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Sloop | Robbie | 1883-12-20 | 3 | The little sloop Robbie, with a cargo of Christmas trees on board, cleared for Milwaukee Saturday last. | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | Robbie Dunham | 1896-03-28 | 5 | Engine info | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | Robbie Dunham | 1896-10-17 | 5 | In for repairs | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | Robbie Dunham | 1896-10-10 | 5 | Side pump disabled | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Robbie Knapp | 1884-09-18 | 3 | Arrived with 300 bu. of apples | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Robbie Knapp | 1872-10-31 | 3 | Arr. Oct. 25, Milwaukee. Cleared Oct. 25, Milwaukee. 13 cds wood, 81 ship knees | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Robbie Knapp | 1884-11-06 | 3 | The schooner Robbie Knapp is in the harbor, loaded with fruit. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Robbie Knapp | 1886-05-27 | 3 | The schooner Robbie Knapp was wind-bound in this port on Saturday last. |
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.