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 FRONTENAC sails for Thunder Bay
April 9, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V FRONTENAC departed Sunday morning, April 6th, {2025} from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding here in Sturgeon Bay. She headed out Sturgeon Bay, up Green Bay toward her destination of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The keel for the FRONTENAC was laid at the…Read more
Clean and Comfortable Beds
April 9, 2025The wooden paddle steamer SEA BIRD was built in 1859 at Newport, Mich., for E. B. Ward of Detroit to run between Cleveland and Buffalo making regular trips on alternate days between the two cities. She was 210 feet in length and 26 feet in beam. The write up in…Read more
JAMES R. BARKER starts her season
April 6, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V JAMES R. BARKER departed Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, Thursday evening April 3rd (2025). The BARKER headed out Sturgeon Bay and anchored for the night out in the Bay of Green Bay. The next morning, the BARKER motored slowly out through Rock…Read more
The Town of Ashtabula Celebrates the Launching of the LOUIS R. DAVIDSON
April 6, 2025On this day, April 6, 1912, the steel bulk cargo steamer LOUIS R. DAVIDSON was launched at Ashtabula by the Great Lakes Engineering Works. She measured 511.1 feet in length, 56.2 feet in beam and 32 feet in depth. It was a great event at Ashtabula as it was the…Read more
Permission was requested to use the President’s name
March 31, 2025On this day March 31, 1906, the passenger steamer THEODORE ROOSEVELT was launched at Toledo by the Toledo Ship Building Co. Her owners, the Indiana Transportation Company, requested permission from the President to give his name to their new vessel. Permission was granted and after her successful launch a…Read more
BURNS HARBOR Heads to Superior
March 30, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V BURNS HARBOR left the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding dock in Sturgeon Bay, Friday afternoon March 28, 2025. The vessel went out Sturgeon Bay and up Green Bay toward Lake Michigan. It is destined for Superior, Wis., to pick up its first…Read more
STEWART J. CORT Heads Out
March 30, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V STEWART J. CORT left the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard Friday morning March 28, 2025. The vessel headed out Sturgeon Bay, then up the Bay of Green Bay, through Rock Island passage on its way to Silver Bay for its first…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Fitting Out
March 30, 2025By Chris Winters Fitting out the CASON J. CALLAWAY at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, March 2011. The CASON J. CALLAWAY was built in 1952 by the Great Lakes Engineering Works at River Rouge, Michigan, for the Pittsburgh Steamship Division of the United States Steel Corporation. She was commissioned…Read more
BUILT IN THE GREAT LAKES – SUNK BY A KAMIKAZE DRONE BOAT
March 28, 2025By James Heinz Current news media accounts tell of the recent use of kamikaze drone boats to sink ships. A warship built in Michigan was sunk by one of these boats…in 1945. At the start of World War II, the U.S. Navy felt the need for small vessels to be…Read more
The WILLIAM H. TRUESDALE gets launched and the JAMES E. McALPINE gets loaded
March 21, 2025On this day March 21, 1908, the WILLIAM H. TRUESDALE was launched at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Ship Building Company for the Empire Steamship Company managed by the Brown Steamship Company. She measured 432 feet in length, 52 feet in beam and 28 feet in depth. Her namesake,…Read more
“running water in every room”
March 18, 2025On this day March 18, 1906, the Goodrich steamer ATLANTA burned off Amsterdam, Wisconsin, about 10 miles south of Sheboygan. She was enroute to Milwaukee with 63 on board. Thanks to Captain Delos H. Smith, the founder of Smith Brothers of Port Washington, and his fishing tug the A. C.…Read more
We Have This, Thanks to Herman
March 16, 2025On this day, March 16, 1958, Herman G. Runge sailed on. His name is not familiar to many today but he was a nationally recognized authority on Great Lakes vessels during his time. Herman lived in Milwaukee on South 34th Street and was a confirmed bachelor who was known…Read more
