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 WALTER J. McCARTHY, JR. visits Duluth
August 30, 2026Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that there has been steady shipping traffic in Duluth this summer. On Friday, the 28th, he caught the WALTER J. McCARTHY, JR. slowing backing into the CN ore docks in Duluth at 4 pm. The McCARTHY left the harbor the next day at 7…Read more
The ZILLAH founders off Whitefish Point
August 29, 2026On this day August 29, 1926, the ZILLAH foundered four miles south of Whitefish Point in Lake Superior during a terrible summer storm. She was loaded with limestone and started taking on water faster than her pumps could handle. The decision was made to abandon ship in the lifeboats. …Read more
The three masted schooner R. P. MASON
August 28, 2026On this day August 28, 1867, the three masted schooner R. P. MASON was launched by Harrison C. Pierson at Ferrysburg, Mich. Built for John H. Skeele of Kenosha, Wis., and the lumber trade on Lake Michigan, she measured 116.8 feet in length, 25.8 feet in beam and was…Read more
The S. C. BALDWIN founders off Twin River Point
August 27, 2026On this day, August 27, 1908, the tow barge S. C. BALDWIN foundered off Twin River Point, Wisconsin. There were three on board at the time and one was lost. The propeller S. C. BALDWIN was built in 1871 at Detroit by Campbell & Owen for the Escanaba &…Read more
Spar and Sinbad Honored
August 26, 2026On August 26th we honored two World War II Coast Guard mascots for International Dog Day. The first is Spar. Featured here wearing her dress blues, complete with first class yeoman rating, campaign ribbons which she earned and wings for her plane jump. Spar in this photo is a two-year-old…Read more
A SOUTH SEAS ADVENTURE THAT ENDS IN LAKE ERIE
August 23, 2026By James Heinz On July 21, 1831, the whaleship MENTOR under the command of 31 year old Edward Barnard left New Bedford, Mass., with a crew of 21. Just before midnight on May 21, 1832, in the middle of a storm, the MENTOR struck a reef at the northern end…Read more
The wooden propeller ASIA was launched
August 19, 2026On this day August 19, 1873, the wooden propeller ASIA was launched at the shipyard of Melancthon Simpson. Her cost was reported to be $35,000 and was capable of carrying 16,000 bushels of grain. She measured 126 feet in length, 23 feet in beam and a draft of 11…Read more
A LEGENDARY UNDERSEA EXPLORER REVEALED
August 18, 2026By James Heinz For anyone who was ever a diver in Milwaukee or southeast Wisconsin, Max Gene Nohl was a legendary figure, like an underwater Odysseus. Oral tales of his extraordinary adventures circulated amongst us. He once held the world record for the deepest dive, was a pioneer in the…Read more
History in the Welland Canal
August 17, 2026WMHS member Richard Gebhart recently sent author Jim Heinz some of his photos after the story of the Odyssey was posted. Richard is an author who was awarded this year the Richard J. Wright award for his Frank E. Kirby book. Enjoy the photos and an excerpt from his story.…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Gassing Up
August 16, 2026By Chris Winters Gassing up the “Queen of the Lakes,” PAUL R. TREGURTHA at Superior, Wisconsin, March 2013. Interlake’s flagship the PAUL R. TREGURTHA was built in 1981 at Lorain, Ohio by the American Ship Building Company as the WILLIAM J. DeLANCEY. She was nicknamed Fancy DeLancey because of her…Read more
THE SHIP IN THE ODYSSEY MOVIE ONCE SAILED THE GREAT LAKES
August 14, 2026By James Heinz The ship used in this summer’s blockbuster Christopher Nolan movie “The Odyssey” once sailed the Great Lakes. An August 14, 2022, WMHS blog posting https://wmhs.org/when-a-viking-ship-sailed-the-great-lakes/ contained information about a replica Viking ship that came to Chicago for the Columbian Exposition in 1893 and then stayed, becoming a…Read more
WHEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN BOTH DID AND DID NOT COME TO MILWAUKEE ON A SHIP
August 9, 2026By James Heinz Most historians believe that Abraham Lincoln came to the state of Wisconsin twice in his lifetime. The first was in 1832, when he was the captain of an Illinois militia company during the Black Hawk War, where, as he said, he did not fight anything except mosquitos.…Read more
