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.
American Ship Building launches the steamer FRANK W. HART
March 9, 2025On this day December 14, 1901, the steel steamer FRANK W. HART was launched by American Ship Building Company at Lorain, Ohio, for the Gilchrist Transportation Company. She was named for the head of one of the large wholesale millinery houses of Cleveland. The HART was sold to…Read more
Manitowoc launches Goodrich’s ALABAMA
March 9, 2025On this day December 18, 1909, the Goodrich Transit Company’s steel icebreaking passenger steamer ALABAMA was launched at Manitowoc, Wis. Built by the Manitowoc Ship Building and Dry Dock Company to run between Chicago, Grand Haven, and Muskegon, she measured 250 feet in length, 45.5 feet in beam and…Read more
The Ghost of the COBIA
March 9, 2025By James Heinz As a lifelong student of Great Lakes history, I know that many people are fond of lighthouses. Many lighthouse fans believe that many lighthouses are haunted, even though lighthouses are government structures about which detailed records were kept showing that no one ever died there. But there…Read more
Toledo Shipbuilding launches the CHARLES HUBBARD
March 9, 2025On this day, March 9, 1907, the steel freighter CHARLES HUBBARD was launched from the Toledo Shipbuilding Company. The HUBBARD was built for the L. C. Smith Transportation Co. of Oswego, NY (United States Transportation Co.). This was not a usual launching. Although the launching was planned and announced, no…Read more
American Ship Building launches the GEORGE M. HUMPHREY
March 8, 2025On this day December 30, 1926, the GEORGE M. HUMPHREY was launched by American Ship Building at their Lorain, Ohio, yard. Built for the Kinsman Transit Company she measured 600 feet over all with a beam of 60 feet and a depth of 32 feet. She was christened by…Read more
BADGER STATE sinks in Gulf of Mexico
March 8, 2025On this day January 14, 1946, the BADGER STATE struck a sunken ship at the mouth of the Grijalva River in the Gulf of Mexico and sank. The BADGER STATE had sailed many waters and changed her name a few times in her career of 30 plus years. Photo…Read more
STEWART J. CORT arrives for winter lay up
March 8, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V STEWART J. CORT arrived at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard, Thursday, January 16, 2024. The vessel pivoted at the mouth of Sturgeon Bay, then backed the six miles up the Sturgeon Bay channel to the yard. It then backed into…Read more
WALTER J. McCARTHY, JR. arrives for winter layup
March 8, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that another ship arrived for winter layup. The M/V WALTER J. McCARTHY, JR. came up Lake Michigan from Indiana Harbor, passed the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal. Then ran up the Door County peninsula, around Rock Island, then ran through Rock Island Passage into…Read more
AMERICAN MARINER arrives at Fincatieri
March 8, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that another ship arrived for winter layup. The M/V AMERICAN MARINER arrived at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, this morning January 22, 2024. The vessel came into the bay of Green Bay through Rock Island Passage, pivoted at the mouth of…Read more
WILFRED SYKES arrives at Fincantieri
March 8, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that another ship arrived for winter layup. The WILFRED SYKES came up Lake Michigan from Burns Harbor, Indiana over the weekend, then meandered around out in the lake until she arrived at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding dock in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., this…Read more
The Chicago Shipbuilding Company launches the CRESCENT CITY
March 8, 2025On this day February 2, 1897, the Chicago Shipbuilding Company launched the steel steamer CRESCENT CITY for Mr. A. B. Wolvin, president and manager of the Zenith Transit Co. Mrs. Wolvin, wife of the president, christened the 406 foot steamer. The CRESCENT CITY did her owners proud her first…Read more
The UMBRIA is launched
March 8, 2025On this day February 6, 1904, the steel cargo steamer UMBRIA was launched at the American Ship Building Co. yard in Cleveland. Built for Henry A. Hawgood she cost about $280,000 and measured 420 feet in length, 50 feet in beam and 28 feet in depth. The UMBRIA…Read more
