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.
The Last Schooner on Lake Ontario was burned for Entertainment
July 21, 2023By Suzette Lopez On June 30, 1934, the last schooner on Lake Ontario, the LYMAN M. DAVIS, was burned at the Sunnyside Amusement Park in Toronto, to entertain thousands of spectators. The LYMAN M. DAVIS was built in 1873 at Muskegon, Michigan, by J. P. Arnold for Lyman Mason and…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Calling Distances
July 17, 2023By Chris Winters A deckhand aboard the CAMERON O. calls distances as the tug tows ST. MARYS CHALLENGER into the graving dock at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, July 2009. ———————————- The tug CAMERON O. was built in 1969 by Peterson Builders of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., as their own ESCORT II. In 1996 she was sold…Read more
Fox River Lock 4 at Appleton
July 2, 2023By Carl Eisenberg It is approximately one hour and forty minutes from Milwaukee to Appleton where the Appleton Locks on the Lower Fox River can be visited. Visiting Appleton and the Locks would make an easy day trip. There are tours of the Appleton Locks available during summer months (https://foxlocks.org/schedule-and-operations/tour-the-locks/)…Read more
Her Crew Was Washed Overboard and Thrown Back
July 2, 2023By Suzette Lopez On June 26, 1882, the steamer SIBERIA was launched at West Bay City, Michigan, for James Davidson. She was the largest craft ever built in the Saginaw valley at the time measuring 280 in length, 40 in beam and 19.5 in depth. The newspapers covering the launch…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Bucket Nuts
June 18, 2023By Chris Winters A machinist’s helper tensions bucket nuts on the LEE A. TREGURTHA‘s new variable-pitch propeller, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, August 2006. ———————————- The LEE A. TREGURTHA was launched on June 25, 1942 as the CHIWAWA by Bethlehem Steel at Sparrows Point, Maryland, under a Maritime Commission contract as the SS…Read more
The Giant Steel Hulk Tumbled Sideways into the Detroit River and Became a Ship – the EDMUND FITZGERALD
June 17, 2023By Suzette Lopez On June 7, 1958, the EDMUND FITZGERALD was launched. Even at her launch newspapers just glowed about her. One described it as the giant steel hulk tumbled sideways into the Detroit River and became a ship – the EDMUND FITZGERALD. Little did they know how the mighty FITZ would…Read more
After 102 Years of Service, the WILLIAM H. DONNER Waited Her Turn to be Scrapped
June 16, 2023By Suzette Lopez On May 7, 1914, the WILLIAM H. DONNER was launched at Ashtabula, Ohio, by the Great Lakes Engineering Works for the Mahoning Steamship Co. Named in honor of the president of the Cambria Steel Co., the DONNER was christened by Miss Margery Russel, the daughter of John…Read more
SHIPWRECKS AND ANCIENT NATIVE AMERICANS ON THE BOTTOM OF LAKE HURON
May 13, 2023By James Heinz Eleven thousand years ago Mother Nature liked Lake Huron so much that she made two of them. At that time water levels in the Great Lakes were much lower than they are today due to the advance of the glaciers. The water levels were so low that…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Santa’s on top of it
May 10, 2023By Chris Winters Deckhands bring a little Christmas cheer to the forward masthead of the WILFRED SYKES, Grand Haven, Michigan, November 2015. ———————————- The WILFRED SYKES was built in 1949 at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Ship Building Co. for the Inland Steel Co. Her namesake was the President of…Read more
A SOLUTION TO THE ZEBRA MUSSEL PROBLEM
May 7, 2023By James Heinz Mark Twain once said: “Everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it.” Such is also the case with the zebra mussel infestation of the Great Lakes. Until now. By “zebra mussels”, I mean both zebra mussels and quagga mussels. Since the mussels are…Read more
Cleveland Ship Building Company Launches the ANDASTE
April 29, 2023By Suzette Lopez On March 31, 1892, the ANDASTE was launched at Cleveland by the Cleveland Ship Building Company. She was the first of three the monitor or straightback steamers being built for the Lakes Superior Iron Company. The ANDASTE was 280 feet in length over all, with a 260…Read more
THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARING WARSHIP OF THE KINNICKINNIC RIVER
April 29, 2023By James Heinz In times past legends and myths of the sea, like The Flying Dutchman, were widely believed. Even today many such myths are still believed. One of these is “The Philadelphia Experiment”. The legend says that in the harbor of the Philadelphia Navy Yard in October 1943 the…Read more
