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. Search our blog index to find your favorite stories.
The AGNES W. goes ashore
July 3, 2025On this day July 3, 1918, the AGNES W. went ashore on Drummond Island about ten miles east of Detour with a cargo of grain. Thick fog and smoke from fires on Drummond Island were the cause. She was reported to be full of water and later pounded to pieces. …Read more
BURNS HARBOR leaves Duluth
July 2, 2025Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that the BURNS HARBOR was leaving Duluth this sunny day with a cargo of taconite. Built in 1980 by the Bay Shipbuilding Corporation at Sturgeon Bay, Wis., the BURNS HARBOR sailed on its maiden voyage light from Sturgeon Bay on September 28, 1980,…Read more
THE CAUSE OF THE SINKING OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD IS IN THE MILWAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY
June 29, 2025BY James Heinz As I noted in a previous story about the death of Gordon Lightfoot, (https://wmhs.org/the-man-who-sang-the-song-that-made-the-ship-immortal-has-died/) “Perhaps the only bad effect of the song is that it inspired a cottage industry of speculation on why the ship sank that has turned the Big FITZ’s sinking into something like the…Read more
A SHIPWRECK AT SUMMERFEST
June 25, 2025By James Heinz Summerfest, the greatest music festival in the world, takes place on Milwaukee’s lakefront. Eating delicious food, listening to great music, and people watching are not the only things you can do at Summerfest. There is one other thing that you can do: Visit an historic shipwreck. Photo…Read more
FEDERAL FRONTIER visits Milwaukee
June 20, 2025Our Milwaukee area correspondent, Bruce Nason, captured this photo Thursday, June 19th, at the Port of Milwaukee Dock One. The MV FEDERAL FRONTIER is unloading what appears to be “general cargo”. She is flagged from Majuro, in the Marshall Islands. --------- Bruce Nason is a retired news photographer and Assignments…Read more
THE BIG FITZ IS STILL REMEMBERED
June 20, 2025By James Heinz 2025 is the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the SS EDMUND FITZGERALD on November 10th. Although gone, the ship is not forgotten. Numerous memorials to her still exist. Photo at top of page: The EDMUND FITZGERALD dated 1975, photo courtesy of Bob Campbell The memorial that…Read more
Pass the salt please…..for my soybeans…….busy morning at Port of Milwaukee
June 15, 2025Our Milwaukee area correspondent, Bruce Nason, captured these photos Friday morning at the Port of Milwaukee. The MV MARK W. BARKER was unloading salt while the MV REGGEBORG, homeport of Dilfzijl, Netherlands, was at the new bulk agriculture export dock. Dilfzijl is a seaport on the boarder of the Netherlands…Read more
EDGAR B. SPEER sails through wildfire smoke
June 14, 2025Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that the EDGAR B. SPEER was slowly leaving the CN ore dock in a haze of wildfire smoke and heading toward the Duluth ship canal on June 11th. The EDGAR B. SPEER was built in 1980 by American Ship Building. The after section was…Read more
The PRESQUE ISLE in Duluth for Repairs
June 14, 2025Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that the PRESQUE ISLE was at the Duluth Port Terminal dock on June 11th for some bow thruster issues. The integrated tug barge unit PRESQUE ISLE was built in 1973. The barge was built in two sections – the bow by DeFoe Shipbuilding in…Read more
THE MANITOWOC LIGHTHOUSE IS NOW OPEN FOR TOURS
June 13, 2025By James Heinz The lighthouse at the end of the breakwater at the entrance to Manitowoc harbor has recently opened for tours. I took the first tour of it with Wisconsin Maritime Museum staffer Lizzy Farrey-Luerssen and Dennis Huckens of the Manitowoc Sunrise Rotary. The public is welcome to walk…Read more
Viking Cruise Ship POLARIS Departs Milwaukee
June 12, 2025Our Milwaukee area correspondent, Bruce Nason, captured these great photos on his sail of Tuesday afternoon. This is the Viking cruise ship POLARIS departing the Port of Milwaukee. To find out more about the Viking Great Lakes Cruises visit: https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/cruise-destinations/north-america/waterways/great-lakes/index.html Photos by Bruce Nason --------------------------- Bruce Nason is a retired…Read more
BADGER LEAVES MANITOWOC
June 11, 2025By James Heinz Recently while on assignment for the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society, I saw one of the oldest operating coal fired steamships in the world sail out of the harbor of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The SS BADGER was built in 1952 as a railroad car ferry for the Chesapeake and…Read more
