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
Door County Advocate Schooner Selkirk 1891-08-15 5 Struck bottom - leaking badly
Door County Advocate Dock Sellicks 1866-03-08 3 New dock to replace sunken dock
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow Selma 1876-04-20 8 Tug Gen. Belknap rescued scow Selma, on the beach at Bailey's Harbor.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner Selma 1875-04-08 8 Extensive repairs being made on schooner.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow Selma 1876-02-24 8 Took a cargo of wood Saturday from fellows' Pier, and cleared for Milwaukee.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow Selma 1876-01-06 8 Conquest broke from her moorings in the river and floated down stream and came in contact with scow Selma.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow Selma 1879-04-24 8 Arrived April 20, Chicago. Departed April 21, Chicago, 3,000 ties for L. J. Conway.
Manitowoc Pilot Scow Selma 1879-04-10 3 Launched, received a new bow and other repairs
Door County Advocate Selma 1875-12-23 3 Loaded wood at Bailey s Harbor
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow Selma 1877-01-04 8 Sunk April 1876. Ran on her anchor at Bailey's Harbor and sunk; $400.

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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.

© 2025 - Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society