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
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Ludington 1896-05-07 3 Is now supplied with a search light.
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Ludington 1896-11-19 3 Pulled off Lansing, ashore between Two Rivers point and Two Creeks.
Manitowoc Pilot Ludington 1897-04-08 3 Wintered at Chicago. Will be in charge of Catain Ed. Carus
Manitowoc Pilot Ludington 1897-09-23 3 To be lengthened 20 ft. and will be furnished with new engines.
Manitowoc Pilot Ludington 1897-10-28 3 Will go into the dry dock at this place on the first of Nov. to be lengthened.
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Ludington 1897-11-11 3 Went up the river on Monday last to be lengthened.
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Ludington 1896-04-30 4 Was so loaded with freight on its northern trip last Friday that the hatches could not be put down.
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Ludington 1896-05-07 3 Made $2,000 in a trip from Chicago to its northern destination last week.
Manitowoc Pilot Ludington 1896-12-10 3 Into commission to replace the Iowa until repaired.
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Ludington 1897-04-22 4 Made her first trip of the season from this port on Saturday last.

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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.

© 2026 - Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society