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.
Steel Steamer WESTERN RESERVE Breaks in Two
October 13, 2024On August 30, 1892, the steel steamer WESTERN RESERVE broke in two and sunk. She was only two years old. She took with her the owner and several of his family members as well as 21 of her crew. The WESTERN RESERVE was launched on August 20, 1890 at…Read more
LITTLE TOOT GETS LAUNCHED AGAIN
October 13, 2024By James Heinz For the third time, WMHS has launched our good friend LITTLE TOOT into the waters of Lake Michigan. LITTLE TOOT was ready for launching after a year spent in the Joe Grygny tiny wooden boat rehabilitation center. WMHS members Carl Eisenberg, Todd Gordon, and myself went…Read more
Steamer TOPEKA Sinks in Four Minutes
October 13, 2024On August 15, 1916, the wooden steamer TOPEKA and the steamer CHRISTOPHER collided in heavy fog in the Detroit River opposite the Mullen Coal Dock at Sandwich, Ontario. The TOPEKA had a cargo of 1,800 tons of soft coal and sank in four minutes in forty feet of water. …Read more
A LONG FORGOTTEN BELL FROM A LONG FORGOTTEN WARSHIP THAT STOPPED A WAR
October 13, 2024By James Heinz Nautical, maritime, and naval artifacts from ships long gone are usually found near the water, like the old ship’s anchor next to Lake Michigan in South Shore Park, or the propeller from the SS BADGER at the Port Washington marina, both of which I recently profiled. But…Read more
Day Breaks as Schooner TWO FANNIES Goes Down, But Kitten is Saved
October 13, 2024On this day August 11, 1890, the three masted schooner TWO FANNIES of Kenosha sprung a leak and sank as the day was breaking. The crew consisted of Capt. Alfred Miller (who was also a half owner), Mate Losier, Second Mate Bull and Alexander Last; Harry Anderson; Claud Merchant…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Lucy keeping an eye on the crew
October 13, 2024By Chris Winters Lucy, the ship's cat, relieves the watch and takes a turn piloting the SOUTHDOWN CHALLENGER past the Hoan Bridge into Milwaukee’s harbor, December 2004. The SOUTHDOWN CHALLENGER has been a Milwaukee regular under many names. Built as the WILLIAM P. SNYDER in 1906 at Ecorse, Mich. by…Read more
First Keel Plate of the EDMUND FITZGERALD
October 13, 2024On August 7, 1957, the first keel plate was laid of hull 301 at the Great Lakes Engineering Works of River Rouge, Michigan. Hull 301 was built for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Milwaukee, and would later be named the EDMUND FITZGERALD. The next year, Northwestern Mutual…Read more
HOW I FAILED TO AVOID HOLLYWOOD STARDOM IN MANITOWOC
October 13, 2024By James Heinz Readers of this blog may recall my article from November 2023 about how I starred in the production of a World War II movie onboard the USS COBIA World War II submarine docked at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc WI. Finally, after months of post-production work,…Read more
A MEMORIAL TO GREAT LAKES HISTORY IN SOUTH SHORE PARK
August 2, 2024By James Heinz The large anchor in the accompanying photos stands in South Shore Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront. I was told of it by Milwaukee Public Library Manager of Arts Humanities and Rare Books Kirsten Thompson, who saw it while passing through the park. A bronze plaque on a nearby…Read more
A MEMORIAL TO A SHIP THAT IS STILL AFLOAT
August 1, 2024By James Heinz Most shore side memorials are to ships long lost. But this propeller, in the parking lot of the Port Washington marina, is a memorial to a ship that is still with us. The SS BADGER was built in 1952 as a railroad car ferry for the Chesapeake and…Read more
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
