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 | Washburn | 1892-12-17 | 5 | Whaleback to load grain | ||
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | Washington | 1868-04-30 | 4 | Escanaba route | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | Washington | 1868-10-08 | 4 | Picked up one survivor of John Hale wreck - on cabin about 12 hrs. | |
| Door County Advocate | Quarry | Washington | 1898-05-21 | 1 | Stone to Escanaba | |
| Door County Advocate | Quarry | Washington Ice Co. | 1897-07-24 | 1 | Tug James Halliday towing scows to Manitowoc | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Pier | Washington Island | 1881-04-14 | 3 | A new pier has been built on the W side of Washington Island, and the Goodrich boats will land at that place during the ensuing season. | |
| Door County Advocate | Lighthouse | Washington Island | 1933-08-25 | 1 | New lighthouse being built will be 225 ft. above lake | |
| Door County Advocate | Quarry | Washington stone quarry | 1898-03-05 | 1 | Received contract | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | Washoto | 1911-05-04 | 1 | Garbage steamer | |
| Door County Advocate | Cargo ship | Washtenaw | 1945-06-08 | 1 | Record of 89 days to build |
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.