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 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
SEQUOIA Arrives at Fincantieri
June 7, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the USCGC SEQUOIA (WLB 215) arrived at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard, yesterday, June 6th, 2025 and will be docked in one of the FBS floating drydocks for underwater repairs. The USCGC SEQUOIA (WLB 215) was built in 2003/4 by Marinette Marine…Read more
A TUGBOAT IN KEWAUNEE HARBOR TODAY PARTICIPATED IN THE D-DAY LANDINGS
June 6, 2025By James Heinz The June 6, 1944 World War II Normandy landings have been described as The Longest Day and the Greatest Day of the Greatest Generation. A tugboat floating in the harbor of Kewaunee, Wis., was there on that fateful day. It is little known that in World War…Read more
Duluth Welcomes VIKING OCTANTIS
June 5, 2025Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that Duluth saw its first cruise ship of the season, the VIKING OCTANTIS. She was built in 2021 and is 673 feet long. She is not only the first cruise ship in port but the first to dock at the rebuilt dock and sea…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Wheeling the JAMES R. BARKER
June 4, 2025By Chris Winters Wheeling the JAMES R. BARKER into the Poe lock, upbound for Lake Superior, July 2017. The JAMES R. BARKER was built in 1976 at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Shipbuilding Co. for Pickands Mather & Co. of Cleveland, a subsidiary of Moore McCormack. The 1,000 foot steel self-unloader…Read more
AMERICAN INTEGRITY off loads to AMERICAN CENTURY
June 1, 2025Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that the AMERICAN CENTURY entered Duluth on May 30th to pick up a cargo of taconite, but not in the usual way. This is something you don't see every day, but she slowly backed next to the AMERICAN INTEGRITY which was docked at the Ash…Read more
The PAUL R. TREGURTHA with a work boat
May 31, 2025Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that on May 30th, the PAUL R. TREGURTHA was sitting at the Port Terminal dock with a work barge from the Fraser Shipyard at the stern. Whenever the issue is repaired, she will go to Superior to pick up a cargo of coal. Photos by Elmer Engman ----------------------------------…Read more
BURNS HARBOR arrives in Duluth
May 31, 2025Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that May 30th was a busy day for vessel traffic in Duluth. The first arrival was the 1000 foot BURNS HARBOR headed to the CN ore dock to load a cargo of taconite. -------- Built in 1980 by the Bay Shipbuilding Corporation at Sturgeon Bay, Wis.,…Read more
The PAUL L. Tips Over
May 28, 2025On this day May 28, 1910, the Fox River steam paddle boat PAUL L. tipped over on her port side at Riverside Park in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She had been unloading coal at her dock just east of the Main Street Bridge. Too much of her cargo was removed from…Read more
