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.
WILFRED SYKES arrives in Sturgeon Bay
January 10, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the WILFRED SYKES meandered around out in northern Lake Michigan until she arrived at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding dock in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., early Tuesday, January 8, 2025. She motored up the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal to her dock for winter storage. …Read more
The SPARTAN is launched
January 4, 2025On this day January 4, 1952, the Christy Corp of Sturgeon Bay launched the car ferry SPARTAN. No big ceremony was held as her sister ship the BADGER was being built at the same time. The big ceremony was reserved for September 6th when both were christened while over 1,000…Read more
MESABI MINER arrives in Sturgeon By
January 1, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V MESABI MINER arrived at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding dock on Saturday December 28th for winter layup. She backed up the 6 miles through the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal. The MESABI MINER was built in three sections. The mid body was…Read more
LITTLE TOOT HAS COME HOME AGAIN
December 30, 2024By James Heinz This is the latest installment in the saga of LITTLE TOOT, the little wooden boat that for the last few years WMHS has been periodically launching into Lake Michigan and recovering from the helping hands of people who later found it on the beach somewhere in the…Read more
FRONTENAC arrives in Sturgeon Bay
December 27, 2024Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V FRONTENAC arrived at noon December 23, 2024, at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay. She came through Green Bay, then pivoted and backed the six miles up Sturgeon Bay to the yard. The tug ERIKA KOBASIC assisted with the maneuvers.…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Holiday Spirit on the WILFRED SYKES
December 23, 2024By Chris Winters Crew 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…Read more
A CHRISTMAS TRADITION CONTINUES
December 22, 2024By James Heinz At Christmas time for many years the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society has remembered the mariners lost on the Great Lakes and particularly the men lost on the legendary Christmas Tree Ship, the schooner ROUSE SIMMONS. The SIMMONS sank in 1912 while delivering Christmas trees to the poor…Read more
ON THIS DAY: THE FOOL KILLER SUBMARINE WAS RECOVERED FROM THE CHICAGO RIVER
December 20, 2024By James Heinz Some of my best stories come from what I find in the files of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society when I am looking for something else. When I found there was a file with the title “FOOL KILLER” on it, I knew I had to write a…Read more
THE LEGACY OF CAPTAIN SANTA LIVES ON
December 18, 2024By James Heinz Photo above is the USCG MACKINAW sailing past Racine to deliver Christmas trees to Chicago. Photo by Bob Jaeck. One of the enduring legends of the Great Lakes is the story of the schooner ROUSE SIMMONS, the famous Christmas Tree Ship. Her captain, Herman Schuenemann, became…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Christmas Comes to Chicago
December 17, 2024By Chris Winters A young volunteer helps deliver Christmas trees to Chicago harbor aboard the latter-day "Christmas Tree Ship," icebreaker Mackinaw WAGB 83, December 2005. Chris Winters is a Trustee and Vice President of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society, a well-known author and has been a photojournalist for over 25 years. …Read more
A CELEBRATION OF A FORGOTTEN FISHING COMMUNITY
December 13, 2024By James Heinz Milwaukee’s port facilities are centered on the peninsula known as Jones Island. Today it is totally industrialized. No one lives there. The only sounds you hear all year long are the sounds of a busy port. But once a year on the first Saturday of August a…Read more
THE GREAT LAKES OLDEST SHIP VISITS MILWAUKEE
December 13, 2024By James Heinz For many years the 1906 built ST. MARY’S CHALLENGER was the oldest self-propelled ship on the Great Lakes. She lost that title in 2013 when she was cut down into a humble barge, part of an Integrated Tug Barge unit. Photo above: ALPENA backing into Milwaukee…Read more
