Wisconsin Marine Historical Society

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 JOSEPH L. BLOCK is Heading to Duluth

    April 17, 2025
    Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V JOSEPH L. BLOCK departed Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Wednesday evening, April 16th. The BLOCK went out Sturgeon Bay, up the bay of Green Bay and out into Lake Michigan. The vessel headed for the Straits of Mackinac and ultimately to the…

    Read more

  • The WILFRED SYKES Heads to Port Dolomite

    April 17, 2025
    Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the S/S WILFRED SYKES left Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding dock Monday April 14th.  The vessel headed out Sturgeon Bay, then out the bay of Green Bay and into Lake Michigan. Her destination is Port Dolomite, Mich., for its first load of limestone for…

    Read more

  • 414 Celebrates the MS MILWAUKEE

    April 14, 2025
    On 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 luxurious passenger ship which never sailed the Great Lakes but Milwaukee’s mayor and an official delegation were in attendance…

    Read more

  • MESABI MINER Heads Out

    April 13, 2025
    Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V MESABI MINER departed at noon Saturday, April 12th, from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding.  It proceeded out Sturgeon Bay, up Green Bay, around Chambers Island then through Rock Island Passage into Lake Michigan. The vessel is headed for its first load of…

    Read more

  • MAX NOHL MAKES A TEST DIVE

    April 10, 2025
    By James Heinz On December 1, 1937, legendary Milwaukee born underwater adventurer Max Nohl made a record setting test dive in Lake Michigan from the deck of the Coast Guard cutter ANTIETAM to a depth of 420 feet off Port Washington, Wis., using an experimental mixed gas diving rig. The…

    Read more

  • The FRONTENAC sails for Thunder Bay

    April 9, 2025
    Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V FRONTENAC departed Sunday morning, April 6th, {2025} from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding here in Sturgeon Bay. She headed out Sturgeon Bay, up Green Bay toward her destination of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The keel for the FRONTENAC was laid at the…

    Read more

  • Clean and Comfortable Beds

    April 9, 2025
    The wooden paddle steamer SEA BIRD was built in 1859 at Newport, Mich., for E. B. Ward of Detroit to run between Cleveland and Buffalo making regular trips on alternate days between the two cities.  She was 210 feet in length and 26 feet in beam.   The write up in…

    Read more

  • JAMES R. BARKER starts her season

    April 6, 2025
    Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V JAMES R. BARKER departed Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, Thursday evening April 3rd (2025). The BARKER headed out Sturgeon Bay and anchored for the night out in the Bay of Green Bay. The next morning, the BARKER motored slowly out through Rock…

    Read more

  • The Town of Ashtabula Celebrates the Launching of the LOUIS R. DAVIDSON

    April 6, 2025
    On this day, April 6, 1912, the steel bulk cargo steamer LOUIS R. DAVIDSON was launched at Ashtabula by the Great Lakes Engineering Works.  She measured 511.1 feet in length, 56.2 feet in beam and 32 feet in depth. It was a great event at Ashtabula as it was the…

    Read more

  • Permission was requested to use the President’s name

    March 31, 2025
          On this day March 31, 1906, the passenger steamer THEODORE ROOSEVELT was launched at Toledo by the Toledo Ship Building Co.   Her owners, the Indiana Transportation Company, requested permission from the President to give his name to their new vessel.  Permission was granted and after her successful launch a…

    Read more

  • BURNS HARBOR Heads to Superior

    March 30, 2025
    Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V BURNS HARBOR left the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding dock in Sturgeon Bay, Friday afternoon March 28, 2025. The vessel went out Sturgeon Bay and up Green Bay toward Lake Michigan.  It is destined for Superior, Wis., to pick up its first…

    Read more

  • STEWART J. CORT Heads Out

    March 30, 2025
    Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V STEWART J. CORT left the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard Friday morning March 28, 2025. The vessel headed out Sturgeon Bay, then up the Bay of Green Bay, through Rock Island passage on its way to Silver Bay for its first…

    Read more