Our Blog
Wisconsin Marine Historical Society is a self-supported nonprofit organization committed to collecting, preserving, archiving, and sharing materials that illuminate the rich heritage of the Great Lakes maritime industry. Check out our blog to dive deep into the fascinating narratives and events that have shaped the Great Lakes maritime legacy.
On This Day: Escape From Love Island
May 24, 2024By James Heinz Not this Love Island: No, this story will not be about sweaty, sultry, scantily clad singles in skimpy swimsuits in a tropical paradise. This story will be about a desperate battle for survival in the icy cold waters of Lake Michigan just off the shores of Milwaukee…Read more
The Marine Angel Squeezed Down the Chicago River
March 5, 2024By James Heinz On March 5, 1953, the converted World War II cargo ship MARINE ANGEL oozed her way through downtown Chicago. A photo taken from a downtown Chicago building immortalized this event. The MARINE ANGEL was built in 1945 at Sun Shipbuilding in Chester, Penn. She was one of…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Last Load of Iron Ore
January 27, 2024By Chris Winters The steamers WILFRED SYKES and CHARLES M. BEEGHLY take a last load of iron ore from the Canadian National pellet terminal at Escanaba, Michigan, in January 2005. The pusher tug, OLIVE L. MOORE, is laid up in the foreground. The WILFRED SYKES was built in 1949 at…Read more
HOW I NARROWLY ESCAPED HOLLYWOOD STARDOM IN MANITOWOC
January 7, 2024By James Heinz The World War II submarine USS COBIA has been docked in Manitowoc, WI, since 1970. She serves as a memorial to all the submarines built in Manitowoc during the war and the men who served on them. I have previously written about the Manitowoc subs, the COBIA…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Rescue Underway
January 6, 2024By Chris Winters Crew people aboard the LEE A. TREGURTHA swung out of the vessel’s rescue boat during a weekly fire and boat drill while upbound on Lake Michigan in September 2006. The LEE A. TREGURTHA was launched on June 25, 1942, as the CHIWAWA by Bethlehem Steel at Sparrows…Read more
MARITIME HEROES OF FOREST HOME CEMETERY
January 1, 2024By James Heinz Most of the time I write stories about shipwrecks that lie under the water. I know of two shipwrecks that now lie under the land, and this story will be about Milwaukee maritime heroes who also lie under the earth, including several that I have written about…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Working Christmas Eve
December 24, 2023The SOUTHDOWN CHALLENGER arrives alongside the C.T.C. No. 1 at the Southdown cement terminal on Lake Calumet, South Chicago, Illinois, Christmas Eve, 2004. The SOUTHDOWN CHALLENGER has been a Milwaukee regular under many names. Built as the WILLIAM P. SNYDER in 1906 at Ecorse, Mich. by the Great Lakes Engineering…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Dinner is served
December 23, 2023Steward Chris Greene serves up a Christmas feast in the galley of the WILFRED SYKES, upbound on Lake Michigan, December 2010. The WILFRED SYKES was built in 1949 at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Ship Building Co. for the Inland Steel Co. Her namesake was the President of Inland Steel.…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Let there be lights
December 22, 2023Crew enjoys bringing a little Christmas cheer to the officer’s mess aboard the WILFRED SYKES, downbound for Indiana Harbor, Indiana, December 2010. The WILFRED SYKES was built in 1949 at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Ship Building Co. for the Inland Steel Co. Her namesake was the President of Inland…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Decking out the WILFRED SYKES
December 20, 2023Crew gets in the holiday spirit decking out the cargo boom aboard the WILFRED SYKES, downbound on Lake Michigan, December 2010. The WILFRED SYKES was built in 1949 at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Ship Building Co. for the Inland Steel Co. Her namesake was the President of Inland Steel.…Read more
Schooner NORTHERNER Capsized off Port Ulao
November 28, 2023On November 28, 1868, the two masted schooner NORTHERNER capsized off Port Ulao. While loading wood at the pier in Amsterdam, she was pounded heavily. It was discovered when she left for the open water that she was leaking badly. The captain sailed her to the pier at Port Washington…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Shipboard holidazzle
November 23, 2023By Chris Winters An old-fashioned steamboat Thanksgiving at the crew mess of the SOUTHDOWN CHALLENGER as they are downbound on Lake Michigan, November 2004. ——————————— The SOUTHDOWN CHALLENGER has been a Milwaukee regular under many names. Built as the WILLIAM P. SNYDER in 1906 at Ecorse, Mich. by the Great Lakes Engineering…Read more
