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 AMERICAN MARINER heads to Silver Bay
March 8, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V AMERICAN MARINER departed Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, Wednesday morning March 27, 2024. She proceeded out ice free Sturgeon Bay toward the bay of Green Bay, up Green Bay, through Rock Island Passage and into Lake Michigan. She is heading to Silver…Read more
AMERICAN SPIRIT in for new propeller blades
March 7, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V AMERICAN SPIRIT arrived at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard mid-morning Tuesday, April 2nd. The vessel came down the Bay of Green Bay, into Sturgeon Bay, pivoted, then backed the six miles to her dock. Assistance from two Great Lakes tugs…Read more
414 Celebrates the steamer MILWAUKEE
March 7, 2025On this day April 14, Milwaukeeans celebrate the city they love and call home as 414 is the area code for Milwaukee. In honor of 414, today’s post is of a freight and passenger steamer named MILWAUKEE that was built in 1868. The MILWAUKEE was built at Ogdensburg, New York,…Read more
STEWART J. CORT starts her 2024 season
March 7, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V STEWART J. CORT left the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard the afternoon of May 15th around 5:00 pm. The vessel headed out Sturgeon Bay, then up the Bay of Green Bay, through Rock Island passage on its way to Superior for…Read more
A NEW DOCTOR ON BOARD
March 7, 2025By James Heinz Most members of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society are amateur marine history enthusiasts. None of us have ever been historians or underwater archeologists with doctorate degrees. The only doctor on our Board of Directors was our outgoing president, Carl Eisenberg, and he was a pediatric nephrologist. But…Read more
The CHARLES LULING is launched at Manitowoc
March 7, 2025On this day May 24, 1873, the three masted schooner CHARLES LULING was launched at the Manitowoc yard of Larson & Christenson. The LULING successfully hit the water a little after 5 pm as the crowd cheered. Built for the lumber trade and named for one of Manitowoc’s best citizens…Read more
The MAYFLOWER, JR. arrives in Milwaukee thanks to William Lawrie
March 7, 2025On this day May 29, 1933, the steam stern wheeler MAYFLOWER, JR. arrived in Milwaukee thanks to William Lawrie. The MAYFLOWER, JR. was built in 1913 at Oshkosh, Wis., by George D. Ryan for William Wilkins of Oshkosh. She measured 85.6 feet in length, 15 feet in width…Read more
HERBERT C. JACKSON arrives at Fincantieri
March 7, 2025Tom Wenstadt our Door County correspondent reports that the M/V HERBERT C. JACKSON arrived at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding dock in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., Tuesday night May 28th (2024) for propeller repair. The vessel came in through the bay of Green Bay, then up Sturgeon Bay to the FBS yard.…Read more
The schooner ARABIA sails for Glasgow
March 7, 2025On June 1, 1854, the ARABIA cleared Montreal for Glasgow with 13,676 bushels of wheat and 500 barrels of flour. She made the return trip home in 27 days that September. The three masted schooner ARABIA was launched at the Marine Railway shipyard in Kingston, Ontario, on April…Read more
The FOREST CITY strands on Georgian Bay’s Bear Island
March 7, 2025On this day June 5, 1904, the steamer FOREST CITY stranded on Georgian Bay’s Bear Island in a dense fog. Several attempts to salvage her failed. She eventually filled and slid into deep water. She was valued at $15,000, had no cargo at the time and was owned by…Read more
The steamer CHAMPLAIN burns off Fisherman Island
March 7, 2025On this day June 16, 1887, the freight and passenger prop. CHAMPLAIN burned off Fisherman Island at the mouth of Grand Traverse Bay with the loss of 22 lives. Photo at top of page and here: CHAMPLAIN after her fire in June 1887 The CHAMPLAIN was built by A.…Read more
Schooner ALVIN CLARK capsizes off Chambers Island
March 7, 2025On this day June 29, 1864, the two masted schooner ALVIN CLARK capsized off Chambers Island, Wis., during a severe gale with thunder, lightning, rain and hail. She took Capt. Dubbin and mate John Dunn, both of Racine, with her. The CLARK was built at Truago, Mich., (now…Read more
