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.
HOW I FAILED TO AVOID HOLLYWOOD STARDOM IN MANITOWOC
October 13, 2024By James Heinz Readers of this blog may recall my article from November 2023 about how I starred in the production of a World War II movie onboard the USS COBIA World War II submarine docked at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc WI. Finally, after months of post-production work,…Read more
A MEMORIAL TO GREAT LAKES HISTORY IN SOUTH SHORE PARK
August 2, 2024By James Heinz The large anchor in the accompanying photos stands in South Shore Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront. I was told of it by Milwaukee Public Library Manager of Arts Humanities and Rare Books Kirsten Thompson, who saw it while passing through the park. A bronze plaque on a nearby…Read more
A MEMORIAL TO A SHIP THAT IS STILL AFLOAT
August 1, 2024By James Heinz Most shore side memorials are to ships long lost. But this propeller, in the parking lot of the Port Washington marina, is a memorial to a ship that is still with us. The SS BADGER was built in 1952 as a railroad car ferry for the Chesapeake and…Read more
On This Day: Escape From Love Island
May 24, 2024By James Heinz Not this Love Island: No, this story will not be about sweaty, sultry, scantily clad singles in skimpy swimsuits in a tropical paradise. This story will be about a desperate battle for survival in the icy cold waters of Lake Michigan just off the shores of Milwaukee…Read more
The Marine Angel Squeezed Down the Chicago River
March 5, 2024By James Heinz On March 5, 1953, the converted World War II cargo ship MARINE ANGEL oozed her way through downtown Chicago. A photo taken from a downtown Chicago building immortalized this event. The MARINE ANGEL was built in 1945 at Sun Shipbuilding in Chester, Penn. She was one of…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Last Load of Iron Ore
January 27, 2024By Chris Winters The steamers WILFRED SYKES and CHARLES M. BEEGHLY take a last load of iron ore from the Canadian National pellet terminal at Escanaba, Michigan, in January 2005. The pusher tug, OLIVE L. MOORE, is laid up in the foreground. The WILFRED SYKES was built in 1949 at…Read more
HOW I NARROWLY ESCAPED HOLLYWOOD STARDOM IN MANITOWOC
January 7, 2024By James Heinz The World War II submarine USS COBIA has been docked in Manitowoc, WI, since 1970. She serves as a memorial to all the submarines built in Manitowoc during the war and the men who served on them. I have previously written about the Manitowoc subs, the COBIA…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Rescue Underway
January 6, 2024By Chris Winters Crew people aboard the LEE A. TREGURTHA swung out of the vessel’s rescue boat during a weekly fire and boat drill while upbound on Lake Michigan in September 2006. The LEE A. TREGURTHA was launched on June 25, 1942, as the CHIWAWA by Bethlehem Steel at Sparrows…Read more
MARITIME HEROES OF FOREST HOME CEMETERY
January 1, 2024By James Heinz Most of the time I write stories about shipwrecks that lie under the water. I know of two shipwrecks that now lie under the land, and this story will be about Milwaukee maritime heroes who also lie under the earth, including several that I have written about…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Working Christmas Eve
December 24, 2023The SOUTHDOWN CHALLENGER arrives alongside the C.T.C. No. 1 at the Southdown cement terminal on Lake Calumet, South Chicago, Illinois, Christmas Eve, 2004. The SOUTHDOWN CHALLENGER has been a Milwaukee regular under many names. Built as the WILLIAM P. SNYDER in 1906 at Ecorse, Mich. by the Great Lakes Engineering…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Dinner is served
December 23, 2023Steward Chris Greene serves up a Christmas feast in the galley of the WILFRED SYKES, upbound on Lake Michigan, December 2010. The WILFRED SYKES was built in 1949 at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Ship Building Co. for the Inland Steel Co. Her namesake was the President of Inland Steel.…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Let there be lights
December 22, 2023Crew enjoys bringing a little Christmas cheer to the officer’s mess aboard the WILFRED SYKES, downbound for Indiana Harbor, Indiana, December 2010. The WILFRED SYKES was built in 1949 at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Ship Building Co. for the Inland Steel Co. Her namesake was the President of Inland…Read more
