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.
HERBERT C. JACKSON arrives at Fincantieri
March 7, 2025Tom Wenstadt our Door County correspondent reports that the M/V HERBERT C. JACKSON arrived at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding dock in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., Tuesday night May 28th (2024) for propeller repair. The vessel came in through the bay of Green Bay, then up Sturgeon Bay to the FBS yard.…Read more
The schooner ARABIA sails for Glasgow
March 7, 2025On June 1, 1854, the ARABIA cleared Montreal for Glasgow with 13,676 bushels of wheat and 500 barrels of flour. She made the return trip home in 27 days that September. The three masted schooner ARABIA was launched at the Marine Railway shipyard in Kingston, Ontario, on April…Read more
The FOREST CITY strands on Georgian Bay’s Bear Island
March 7, 2025On this day June 5, 1904, the steamer FOREST CITY stranded on Georgian Bay’s Bear Island in a dense fog. Several attempts to salvage her failed. She eventually filled and slid into deep water. She was valued at $15,000, had no cargo at the time and was owned by…Read more
The steamer CHAMPLAIN burns off Fisherman Island
March 7, 2025On this day June 16, 1887, the freight and passenger prop. CHAMPLAIN burned off Fisherman Island at the mouth of Grand Traverse Bay with the loss of 22 lives. Photo at top of page and here: CHAMPLAIN after her fire in June 1887 The CHAMPLAIN was built by A.…Read more
Schooner ALVIN CLARK capsizes off Chambers Island
March 7, 2025On this day June 29, 1864, the two masted schooner ALVIN CLARK capsized off Chambers Island, Wis., during a severe gale with thunder, lightning, rain and hail. She took Capt. Dubbin and mate John Dunn, both of Racine, with her. The CLARK was built at Truago, Mich., (now…Read more
DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER arrive at Fincantieri
March 7, 2025Tom Wenstadt our Door County correspondent reports that the integrated tug barge DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER arrived at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding outer dock through the bay of Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay the morning of June 22nd. Presently the DOROTHY ANN is in one of the floating drydocks, while the PATHFINDER is…Read more
Steambarge MILWAUKEE sinks off Muskegon
March 7, 2025On this day July 9, 1886, the steambarge MILWAUKEE bound from Chicago to Muskegon light was sunk off Muskegon, Mich., by the steamer C. HICKOX. The MILWAUKEE’s watchman Denny Harrington was lost in the collision. The MILWAUKEE was built as a freight and passenger steamer in 1868 at Ogdensburg…Read more
HERBERT C. JACKSON departs Fincantieri
March 7, 2025Tom Wenstadt our Door County correspondent reports that the M/V HERBERT C. JACKSON departed the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding dock midday Wednesday, July 10th. The vessel backed out of Sturgeon Bay, then pivoted 180 degrees out in Green Bay, then traveled up Green Bay, then through Rock Island Passage toward the…Read more
Schooner J. DUVALL found bottom up
March 7, 2025On this day July 16, 1880, the schooner J. DUVALL was found bottom up off Two Rivers, Wis. She had been bound from Kewaunee to Chicago and it is believed she was caught by a sudden squall the night of July 9th. Her canvas was set, showing she went…Read more
The sandsucker AMERICAN is launched
March 7, 2025On this day July 11, 1921, the sandsucker AMERICAN was launched by the Manitowoc Ship Building Corp. for the American Sand & Gravel Co. of Michigan City, Indiana. Her construction and repair jobs on the steamers in winter layup, kept nearly 1,500 men busy in the shipyard until spring…Read more
Long Ships Passing – TREGURTHA loading coal
March 7, 2025By Chris Winters The crew of the PAUL R. TREGURTHA load 60,000 tons of western coal at the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal, March 16, 2013 – first trip of Interlake Steamship's centennial season on the Great Lakes. Interlake’s flagship the PAUL R. TREGURTHA was built in 1981 at Lorain, Ohio by…Read more
Long Ships Passing – BADGER’s Spring Fit Out
March 7, 2025By Chris Winters The engine room crew of the carferry S.S. BADGER light the vessels steam boilers during spring fit-out at her home port of Ludington, Michigan, April 2018. ------------ Built by the Christy Corp. of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., the BADGER was launched in 1952 with her sister ship the SPARTAN…Read more
