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.
BRAND NEW CHRYSLERS USE LAKE SUPERIOR AS AN ICE ROAD
March 24, 2022By Suzette Lopez On March 18, 1896, the CITY OF BANGOR was launched at West Bay City, Mich., by F. W. Wheeler & Co. She slide down the ways on an almost even keel and struck the water lightly. Her swell broke the ice for a long distance in the…Read more
AMAZING WHAT 1,500 POUNDS OF DYNAMITE CAN DO
March 13, 2022BySuzette Lopez On March 7, 1912, the RACINE was still stuck in ice off Racine, Wis. The Northern Michigan Transportation Company passenger steamer and the IOWA of the Goodrich line had been stuck since trying to enter the Racine Harbor the night of the 3rd. The steamers were within half…Read more
BOATS THAT KEPT MILWAUKEE SAFE – Chapter 2
March 13, 2022The beginning By James Heinz Wikipedia describes the origin of the fireboat thusly: “The first recorded fire-float was built in 1765 for the Sun Fire Insurance Company in London. This was a manual pump in a small boat, rowed by its crew to the scene of the fire. As early as…Read more
BOATS THAT KEPT MILWAUKEE SAFE – Chapter 1
March 5, 2022By James Heinz Once there were over 250 of them. They lined every street in downtown Milwaukee. Now, only five of these silent green cylindrical sentinels of safety remain. People walk past them every day without knowing the five are a testament to a time when they were part of…Read more
VALENTINE’S DAY 1923 INFLICTS HAVOC ON THE HOODOO SHIP
February 15, 2022By Suzette Lopez On February 14, 1923, the carferry ANN ARBOR NO. 4 struck the south breakwater of the Frankfort harbor just past the lighthouse during a horrific ice storm and sank. While the coast guard was rushing to the rescue from shore, the carferry shifted while foundering and rolled…Read more
WISCONSIN’S OLDEST SHIPWRECK
January 23, 2022By James Heinz Like real world archeologists, fictional archeologist Indiana Jones will cross the widest deserts, climb the highest mountains, hack his way through trackless jungles, sail the widest oceans, and fight his greatest nemesis, snakes, to find priceless historical artifacts. But Wisconsin’s own Indiana Jones, Tamara Thomsen, did not…Read more
$2 billion over five years: Climate change price for buttressing Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River government property
January 14, 2022By Dan Patrinos Over the next five years, coastal communities along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River are expected to spend nearly $2 billion combating damages from climate change, according to a survey of United States and Canadian government officials. The binational survey of 241 cities, villages and other…Read more
Edmund Fitzgerald, a man who left his hallmark on the Great Lakes
January 9, 2022By Dan Patrinos His grandfather and granduncles were ship captains on the Great Lakes. A two-football fields-long freighter, then known as the “Queen of the Lakes,” was named after him, and its sinking made his name an unbidden household word. He played a key role in planning the celebration opening…Read more
Icebreaker’s captain commands a unique, powerful ship
December 21, 2021By James Heinz The captain of the USCGC MACKINAW is a remarkable woman on a remarkable ship. Captain Kristen Serumgard commands a ship that, she says, has the fourth largest electric power plant in the state of Michigan, her home base. It’s unique among military vessels. I caught up with…Read more
The Christmas Tree Ship lives on in memory — and deed
December 18, 2021By James Heinz Although the ROUSE SIMMONS with its load of Christmas trees sank nearly 110 years ago, its memory has not been forgotten, nor has its mission to deliver firs to make the holiday merry. On the morning of December 4, I witnessed the modern day version of the…Read more
The car ferry MILWAUKEE is a Must Dive Destination
November 14, 2021By Cal Kothrade Since the wreck of the rail car ferry MILWAUKEE was found, it has been a mainstay of the Milwaukee diving community, a must dive destination for advanced and technical divers alike. Milwaukee area diver and shipwreck hunter Kent Bellrichard found the massive wreck quite by accident back…Read more
HOW I RELIVED MY YOUTH ON THE BOTTOM OF LAKE MICHIGAN
November 14, 2021By James Heinz I still remember that night. Apollo 11 was on the moon. I was 12 years old. On July 21, 1969, at 8:56 p.m., I was sitting in the living room with my parents in Milwaukee and watching a grainy black and white image, and heard those immortal…Read more
