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 Andy Johnson 1883-06-21 3 In port
Door County Advocate Steamer Andy Johnson 1884-11-20 3 To be rebuild in Milwaukee
Door County Advocate Revenue cutter Andy Johnson 1887-07-16 3 First appearance of the year
Door County Advocate Revenue cutter Andy Johnson 1900-02-17 1 To be converted into a tow barge
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Andy Johnson 1879-12-25 4 The vessel will be rebuilt at Manitowoc by Hanson & Scove.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Andy Johnson 1880-02-26 4 The Andy Johnson is to be hauled out at Hanson & Scove's yard, the plan of putting her in dry dock having been abandoned.
Door County Advocate Revenue Andy Johnson 1881-07-28 3 Making annual cruise about the lakes
Door County Advocate Revenue cutter Andy Johnson 1895-09-14 5 Passed through
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Andy Johnson 1880-03-18 4 The Manitowoc Pilot ways the Andy Johnson is being drawn out with considerable difficulty. Iron cables crack with the strain.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Revenue cutter Andy Johnson 1889-05-23 3 An officer went aboard all the vessels in the harbor and checked papers and made a general inspection. Tug Unknown also checked.

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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.

© 2025 - Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society