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 | Scow | Sea Star | 1886-05-06 | 3 | The scow Sea Star arrived in port on Monday and loaded ties for Sam Perry. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Sea Star | 1886-10-28 | 3 | The schooners Lady Ellen, Tempest, Ole Olson, Odd Fellow, William Finch, Sea Star and Eliza Day were in port the latter part of last week. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Scow | Sea Star | 1885-12-17 | 3 | The steambarge C. G. Burroughs came in with scow Sea Star in tow. The steambarge had a lot of freight for Swaty & Fellows. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Sea Star | 1885-11-12 | 3 | Recently badly damaged in the Chicago river. Repairs cost over $1000. She was in our harbor this week. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Sea Star | 1886-11-11 | 3 | Was wrecked while moored at the pier at Clay Banks. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Sea Star | 1883-04-26 | 3 | Foscoro to Chicago with posts | |
| Door County Advocate | Scow | Sea Star | 1883-05-31 | 3 | Paid $55 for colliding with craft | |
| Door County Advocate | Scow | Sea Star | 1886-11-11 | 3 | Almost a total wreck | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Scow | Sea Star | 1878-08-29 | 8 | Arrived at Ahnapee Aug 24 from Racine. Departed 26th for Foscoro. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Scow | Sea Star | 1872-07-18 | 3 | Arrived July 22, Chicago. Cleared July 20, Chicago, 80 cds wood |
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.