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.
Long Ships Passing – Decking out the WILFRED SYKES
December 20, 2023Crew gets in the holiday spirit decking out the cargo boom aboard the WILFRED SYKES, downbound 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
Schooner NORTHERNER Capsized off Port Ulao
November 28, 2023On November 28, 1868, the two masted schooner NORTHERNER capsized off Port Ulao. While loading wood at the pier in Amsterdam, she was pounded heavily. It was discovered when she left for the open water that she was leaking badly. The captain sailed her to the pier at Port Washington…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Shipboard holidazzle
November 23, 2023By Chris Winters An old-fashioned steamboat Thanksgiving at the crew mess of the SOUTHDOWN CHALLENGER as they are downbound on Lake Michigan, November 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 – Turkeys around the Table
November 22, 2023By Chris Winters The galley department setting the crew mess for Thanksgiving dinner on the EDWARD L. RYERSON while upbound on Lake Superior, November 2006. ———————————- The EDWARD L. RYERSON was built in 1960 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. for Inland Steel. She measured 730 x 75 x 39…Read more
Surfmen Helped Sack and Transfer the Cargo of Grain
November 19, 2023By Suzette Lopez On November 14, 1887, the Captain of the small Canadian schooner SARAH requested assistance from the keeper of the Charlotte Life Saving Station as his ship had run ashore during a snow storm. The following is from the US Life Saving Service Annual Report of 1888 and details how…Read more
LITTLE TOOT HAS MADE A LITTLE KID HAPPY
November 19, 2023By James Heinz Readers of this blog are familiar with the saga of Little Toot. During the pandemic, Executive Director Suzette Lopez heard about an elementary school that had launched a small model boat into Lake Superior. She asked if WMHS would consider such a project. This school project was inspired…Read more
Long Ships Passing – ROGER BLOUGH Fire Drill
November 6, 2023By Chris Winters The crew of Great Lakes Fleet’s M/V ROGER BLOUGH participate in a monthly firefighting drill downbound on Lake Erie with a load of taconite pellets destined for Conneaut, Ohio, September 2015. ————————— The ROGER BLOUGH was built in 1971 at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Ship Building…Read more
The Man Who Sang the Song that made the Ship Immortal has Died
November 6, 2023Most Great Lakes shipwrecks die anonymous deaths, their loss remembered only by marine history buffs like myself. This is true of most shipwrecks. About the only shipwreck most people can remember is the TITANIC, and that is more because of the life stories of her thousands of passengers. Cargo ships…Read more
The VERNON Goes Down off Two Rivers Point
October 29, 2023By Suzette Lopez On October 29, 1887, the wooden propeller VERNON was lost off Two Rivers Point in a violent northeast gale taking her 16 passengers and 25 crew members with her. One crew member Axel Stone was rescued on a raft several days later. As you can image, the…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Bosun Sounds
October 28, 2023By Chris Winters The bosun sounds ST. MARYS CHALLENGER‘s cargo hold, 0430, loading at Charlevoix, Michigan, November, 2004. ——————————— The ST. MARYS 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 Works for the Shenango…Read more
Long Ships Passing – CORT’s unique ferris wheel
October 27, 2023By Chris Winters The STEWART J. CORT’s 3rd mate stands a watch in the control room of the CORT’s unique “ferris wheel” unloading rig, Burns Harbor, Indiana, January 2014. ——————————— The STEWART J. CORT was built partially by Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula, MS then completed at Erie Marine in Erie, PA for…Read more
Below on the SWEEPSTAKES
October 8, 2023On September 24, 1867, the two masted schooner SWEEPSTAKES was launched at Wellington Square, Ontario, by William Bunten and John Waldie. A large number of spectators witnessed this fine vessel taking to the water. She was valued at $12,000 and measured 124 feet in length, 24.5 feet in beam and…Read more
