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 Steamer Topeka 1913-10-30 1 Shaft on unloader broke
Door County Advocate Steamer Topeka 1916-08-24 1 Sunk in collision with Christopher in Detroit river
Door County Advocate Steamer Topeka 1915-07-01 1 Northbound carrying stone
Door County Advocate Steamer Topeka 1913-10-16 1 New crew
Door County Advocate Topeka 1916-11-30 1 Sunk Aug. 15 - no lives lost
Door County Advocate Steamer Topeka 1917-01-25 1 Owners sewing because of loss of vessel
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Topeka 1 Loaded with wheat at this port
Door County Advocate Tug Tornado 1885-07-09 2 Steadily employed by Leathem & Smith mill
Door County Advocate Tug Tornado 1884-05-08 3 Boiler being overhauled
Door County Advocate Tug Tornado 1883-04-26 3 To tow vessels at the canal

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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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