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 | Liner | Sheboygan | 1914-10-02 | 1 | The old boat after being dismantled was towed into the lake, beached half way between Manitowoc and Two Rivers. Coal tar and kerosene was dumped into the hold and torched. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Sheboygan | 1887-10-13 | 3 | Disabled by the breaking of one of her paddle wheels. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Sheboygan | 1913-08-29 | 4 | Captain Frank Cook has retired his position with the Goodrich company. He was in command of the Iowa when she was sunk by the Sheboygan in the Chicago river several weeks ago. | ||
| Door County Advocate | Sheboygen | 1901-08-24 | 1 | Deck hands on strike | ||
| Manitowoc Pilot | Steamer | Sheffield | 1889-06-20 | 3 | Collided with North Star in L. Superior on Friday last and sank. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Sheldon | 1898-10-01 | 1 | Going to Atlantic coast | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Sheldon | 1901-06-22 | 1 | To be brought back to the lakes | |
| Door County Advocate | Fishing tug | Sheldon Bros. | 1911-01-12 | 1 | Sunk by ice at Presque Isle bay | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | Sheldon Parks | 1911-08-24 | 1 | Attached because of $4,000 claim on her | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Steamer | Sheldon Thompson | 1869-05-07 | 2 | First steamer that ever plowed Lake Michigan, 1832 |
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.