By James Heinz
The news media recently reported that a 1,000 year old white oak Native American dugout canoe was found in 15 feet of water in Pewaukee Lake. Ancient canoes like this are Wisconsin’s oldest shipwrecks. I recently examined a dugout canoe that is neither ancient nor sunken.
On September 27th Harbor Fest was held on East Greenfield Avenue on the west side of Milwaukee’s inner harbor both inside and outside of UWM’s Great Lakes Water Institute https://wmhs.org/wmhss-visit-to-the-uw-milwaukee-school-of-freshwater-sciences/
The star attraction was a modern recreation of an ancient Native American dugout canoe. Dawn Wilber of the Protectors of the Menomonee River Chapee/Wilber Learning Center told me that the canoe was built on the Menomonee River from June 15 to July 16, 2026. Https://www.facebook.com/Menikanaehkem
It was made of a single white pine log that was originally about 3,800 pounds. The log was hollowed out not by tools but by a slow smoldering fire that charred the wood, which was then scooped out. The exterior was sanded smooth. Dawn estimated that it is now 15 feet long and weighs about 1,600 pounds.
Although the canoe appears to be double ended, in the attached photo the bow is the end pointed towards the water institute and the stern is the other end.
The canoe has been paddled on the water and Dawn’s assessment of its handling qualities is that it handles differently from a fiberglass canoe and “you must watch your balance”. Seats are removable pieces of wood carved to follow the curve of the hull. It is named Maeqtekowsukiw, or Dugout Canoe Woman.
Dawn Wilber said it is difficult to portage a 1,600 pound object, so the canoes stayed on the body of water they were built on. The canoes were sunk in the winter to prevent ice damage.
In a previous article https://wmhs.org/wisconsins-oldest-shipwreck/ I reported on Wisconsin State Underwater Archeologist Tamara Thomsen finding a 1,200 year old dugout canoe sunken to prevent ice damage in Lake Mendota in 2020. This modern replica is a copy of these canoes, built by the descendants of those who built the original canoes.
Photos by James Heinz, September 2026
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James Heinz is the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society’s acquisitions director. He became interested in maritime history as a kid watching Jacques Cousteau’s adventures on TV. He was a Great Lakes wreck diver until three episodes of the bends forced him to retire from diving. He was a University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee police officer for thirty years. He regularly flies either a Cessna 152 or 172.
