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
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Virginia 1894-11-08 3 Captain Stines superintending the work of laying up his boat.
Manitowoc Pilot Virginia 1895-05-02 2 Goodrich Line boat - Captain H. E. Stines; Chief engineer, Philip Roth.
Manitowoc Pilot Virginia 1895-06-13 2 To do their best to lower speed time between Chicago and Milwaukee.
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Virginia 1896-01-30 3 In winter quarters here
Manitowoc Pilot Virginia 1896-06-04 4 Came down the river on Friday last, a thing of beauty. She left for Milwaukee on Monday.
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Virginia 1896-09-17 3 Arrived here Monday and went into winter quarters.
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Virginia 1897-06-10 4 Left for the season+s work on Fri. night last. She gave a fine exhibition of her search light on Thur. night.
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Virginia 1897-07-22 3 Collided in Milwaukee harbor with Christopher Columbus. Both received damage
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Virginia 1897-09-23 3 Completed the season last Sunday and arrived here on Monday night.
Manitowoc Pilot Whaleback Virginia 1898-01-27 3 Goodrich Transportation bought Christopher Columbus to end strife with Virginia.

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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