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 Freighter Sturgeon Bay 1919-02-28 1 Reached Boston
Door County Advocate Steamer Sturgeon Bay 1918-05-02 1 Pictures and article of launching
Door County Advocate Season shipping record Sturgeon Bay 1867-12-26 4 Sturgeon Bay
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Sturgeon Bay Sturgeon Bay 1899-10-20 2 Movement has been started to change the name of Sturgeon Bay to Otumba.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Harbor Sturgeon Bay 1883-12-13 3 Work on harbors at Sturgeon Bay and Kewaunee reported by Captain F. A. Hinman, of the corps of engineers, U. S. A.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Life saving station Sturgeon Bay 1885-10-15 3 Contract for building the life saving station was awarded to Maxted & Newcombe, of Manistee. Cost is $4,560.
Door County Advocate Quarry Sturgeon Bay 1919-05-16 12 Idle 1st time in 15 yrs.
Door County Advocate Port report Sturgeon Bay 1918-01-03 1 1917 report of arrivals and departures
Door County Advocate Season shipping record Sturgeon Bay 1869-12-23 4 1868 + 1869
Door County Advocate Season shipping record Sturgeon Bay 1867-01-17 1 Sturgeon Bay

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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