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.
“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
“the crowd gave lusty cheers”
March 12, 2025On this day, March 12, 1941, the car ferry CITY OF MIDLAND 41 made her first official trip. She loaded cars of paper at Manitowoc, then loaded cars of canned milk at Kewaunee and sailed to Ludington. She left Ludington on the 13th and sailed for Milwaukee. PERE MARQUETTE…Read more
November Storm Claims the steamer JOHN OWEN
March 9, 2025On this day November 12, 1919, the steamer JOHN OWEN was lost with all on board during one of November’s storms with wind gales of 70 miles per hour. With many of these early vessels “precisely when, where and under what circumstances the vessel met her doom never will…Read more
Blinding snowstorm takes down the LUCERNE
March 9, 2025On this day November 17, 1886, the schooner LUCERNE was lost with her Capt. George L. Lloyd and entire crew during a blinding snowstorm which brought with it a severe drop in temperature, turning the snow to ice several inches thick. The LUCERNE went down off Chequamegon Point in…Read more
The NORDMEER goes aground
March 9, 2025On this day November 19, 1966, the German motorship NORDMEER turned inside the flashing buoy marking the Thunder Bay Island shoal about 12 miles east of Alpena and went aground on the rocks. Within minutes her engine room and cargo holds flooded and she settled in 22 feet of…Read more
Schooner E. B. ALLEN and schooner NEWSBOY Collide off Thunder Bay
March 9, 2025On this day November 20, 1871, the schooner E. B. ALLEN was headed to Buffalo from Chicago with a cargo of grain when it collided with the schooner NEWSBOY off Thunder Bay. The ALLEN sustained a large hole on her portside and began to sink. Her crew was rescued…Read more
The ROUSE SIMMONS disappears
March 9, 2025On this day, November 23, 1912, what has become known as the Christmas Tree Ship foundered in Lake Michigan with all on board near Two Rivers, Wisconsin. She was a three-masted schooner built in 1868 at Milwaukee for Kenosha lumberman R. B. Towslee and named ROUSE SIMMONS in honor…Read more
Her anchors couldn’t hold her
March 9, 2025On this day November 26, 1922, the two masted Canadian schooner KATIE ECCLES sought safety off Timber Island during a terrible storm but ended up driven ashore, settling in about four feet of water. Her anchors couldn’t hold her. Her Captain and crew were able to safely make it…Read more
The WESTMORELAND loses after battling snowy gale
March 9, 2025On this day December 7, 1854, the propeller WESTMORELAND foundered about twenty miles from the dock at South Manitou after battling a snowy gale for two days. Seventeen of the thirty-three persons on board were lost. The following story from survivor Chief Engineer Clinton Wright was printed in the…Read more
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
