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 | Empire State | 1900-09-15 | 1 | Libeled for bill in releasing her | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | Empire State | 1900-07-07 | 1 | Released after 3 days - big article in two areas | |
| Door County Advocate | Barge | Empire State | 1908-05-14 | 1 | Finishing touches - loaded with stone for Ludington | |
| Door County Advocate | Barge | Empire State | 1908-05-21 | 1 | Loaded - to be taken across lake by tug Bennett | |
| Door County Advocate | Empire State | 1908-04-16 | 1 | To be towed by tug J. W. Bennett | ||
| Door County Advocate | Barge | Empire State | 1908-08-27 | 1 | To be towed by Duncan City rest of season | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Empire State | 1902-07-18 | 1 | The steamer Empire State of the Barry line laid at Menominee a couple of days this week, owing to her machinery being disabled. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Empire State | 1902-04-18 | 1 | The steamer Badger State of the Barry line made her first trip here. In command of Capt. Ed. Carus, formerly of the steamer Georgia. The Empire State is also on this line, | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Empire State | 1902-03-07 | 1 | Arrangements made for Barry boats to land here. The new line will probably have the Empire State and Badger State on this run. | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Empire State | 1902-09-19 | 1 | The steamer Empire State was disabled at Sturgeon Bay. The steamer City of Grand Rapids will take her place until she is repaired. |
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.