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
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Propeller Oconto 1876-08-31 8 Cleared Ahnapee Aug. 30 with freight.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Propeller Oconto 1876-08-31 8 Cleared Ahnapee Aug. 27with freight.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Propeller Oconto 1876-06-08 8 Of Goodrich line, the Menominee will take the place of the Oconto on the Chicago and Green Bay route.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Oconto 1876-05-18 8 Is soon to be placed on the Chicago, Ahnapee and Green Bay route, in place of the Oconto.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Propeller Oconto 1880-04-15 4 The propeller Oconto was well loaded down with freight for the bay shore towns.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Propeller Oconto 1880-04-22 3 The propeller Oconto was the first arrival for the season at the port of Green Bay.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steamer Oconto 1877-03-15 8 One of Goodrich Line. Bragging on it.
Door County Advocate Lighthouse Oconto 1912-01-04 1 $5,000 recommended for proposed lighthouse
Door County Advocate Tug Oconto 1892-07-02 5 Being dismantled + permitted to rot
Door County Advocate Propeller Oconto 1886-07-15 3 Sunk in St. Lawrence river

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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