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 | Stewamer | Michigan | 1871-08-24 | 1 | Went to Beaver island, 1856 to stop fighting | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Revenue cutter | Michigan | 1880-07-22 | 3 | Sailor on schooner had a trunk stolen off the deck in Milwaukee | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Michigan | 1880-08-12 | 3 | The United States steamer Michigan is again cruising about the lakes in quest of naval recruits. | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | Michigan | 1879-09-11 | 3 | Exhilerating sight to see her come down the bay | |
| Door County Advocate | Propeller | Michigan | 1882-03-23 | 3 | Capt. R. Prindiville - Goodrich line appoint. | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | Michigan | 1880-08-19 | 3 | Cruising about lakes looking for youthful sprouts to sail on war ships | |
| Door County Advocate | Sail vessel | Michigan | 1898-02-05 | 1 | One of fleet moored in Chicago | |
| Door County Advocate | Freighter | Michigan | 1906-06-01 | 1 | Launched at Detroit - 530 long | |
| Door County Advocate | Michigan | 1906-07-26 | 1 | Doubt on whether she can be raised | ||
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | Michigan | 1906-09-06 | 1 | Trio still searching for lost steamer |
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.