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 | Schooner | Sea Gem | 1874-12-03 | 8 | Driven upon the beach some 40 rods north of the north government pier. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Sea Gem | 1880-04-08 | 4 | The schooner Sea Gem loaded with 130 tons of ice and 1,200 ties for E. Decker & Co. and departed on Tuesday. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Sea Gem | 1895-10-03 | 3 | In for shelter. In turning around she was blown against the harbor pier and crushed her yawl. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Sea Gem | 1877-07-05 | 10 | Arrived at Ahnapee July 1 from Chicago. Cleared 1st for Alaska. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Sea Gem | 1865-03-24 | 1 | First sail vessel to enter our harbor this year | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Sea Gem | 1866-05-11 | 1 | Being painted white | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Sea Gem | 1866-12-07 | 1 | Of this port, is stripped in Chicago | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Sea Gem | 1867-07-12 | 1 | Received a new coat of paint | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Sea Gem | 1867-12-13 | 1 | In winter quarters in the river | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Sea Gem | 1868-12-25 | 1 | Made quick round trip between Manitowoc and Chicago in 72 hours |
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.