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 OCONTO was blamed for burning Green Bay
September 20, 2025On this day September 20, 1880, the OCONTO was blamed for the burning of 60 dwellings and at least 30 barns in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The wooden steamer OCONTO was built in 1872 at Manitowoc by G. S. Rand for the Goodrich Transit Co. She measured 143 feet in…Read more
Sheboygan launches her largest ship ever built – the HELENA
September 19, 2025On this day July 28, 1888, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, launched her largest ship ever built – the steambarge HELENA. (Originally posted July 28, 2025) HELENA being built at Sheboygan, Wisconsin Photo at top of page: Painting of the launch of the HELENA by Plymouth artist Dan Ruzzi. Photo by…Read more
The Abandoned Piers of Lake Michigan III
September 19, 2025By James Heinz This is the final of this series about the abandoned piers at the bottom of Lake Michigan. The two previous stories were about piers built by American settlers north of Rawley Point that were later destroyed by winter storms. This story shows the remains of a pier…Read more
You may have noticed the VEZHEN
September 18, 2025Our Milwaukee area correspondent, Bruce Nason, captured these photos of the Motor Vessel VEZHEN entering Milwaukee’s harbor after anchoring out for several days. The VEZHEN is 'flagged' from Malta but is owned by Navibulgar Shipping, the largest Bulgarian shipping company with a fleet of 45 bulk carriers, 9 container vessels, 5…Read more
The Abandoned Piers of Lake Michigan II
September 17, 2025By James Heinz Here is the second of my series of the remains of the piers built out into Lake Michigan by American settlers so that they could export their crops and import their necessities. Lake Michigan’s winter storms usually wrecked these piers within a couple of years, but their…Read more
On this day a frightful gale took the HUDSON
September 16, 2025On this day September 16, 1901, the steel steamer HUDSON foundered off Eagle Harbor Light in Lake Superior during a furious storm. She was built in 1888 at Wyandotte, Mich., by the Detroit Dry Dock Co. for Western Transit Co. and measured 268 feet in length, 41 feet in…Read more
Russia buys the Goodrich NEVADA
September 15, 2025On this day September 15, 1915, the Goodrich steamer NEVADA was launched in Manitowoc by the Manitowoc Ship Building & Dry Dock Co. She was built entirely of steel and measured 212 feet in length by 42 feet in beam. Built for freight service along the west shore of…Read more
Milwaukee launches the J. & A. STRONACH
September 14, 2025On this day September 14, 1854, Milwaukee launched the J. & A. STRONACH, a three-masted schooner built by George Barber “near Sweet’s old warehouse” for John and Andrew Stronach of Manistee. She was designed for the lumber trade and measured 109.9 feet in length, 23.9 feet in beam and…Read more
WMHS HOSTS A MARINE HISTORY CONFERENCE
September 13, 2025By James Heinz As our own Suzette Lopez has said, “Milwaukee was the location of the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History Conference on September 4 thru the 6th. Many great programs and tours were scheduled. The Wisconsin Marine Historical Society had the pleasure of hosting lunch and a tour of the…Read more
On this day a gale took the Milwaukee built MOONLIGHT
September 13, 2025On this day September 13, 1903, a gale took the Milwaukee built schooner MOONLIGHT. Wolf & Davidson launched the three-masted schooner on March 14, 1874. Her owners were all well-known Milwaukeeans – David Vance, Gilbert E. Collins, Lemuel Ellsworth, W. E. Hibbard, E. C. Hibbard, Joseph S. Peck and A.…Read more
THE ABANDONED PIERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN I
September 12, 2025By James Heinz In the early days of American settlement of the Great Lakes, budding entrepreneurs built piers out into Lake Michigan so that the settlers could export their crops and receive supplies. The piers were an important part of what one scholar called “The Schooner Frontier”. Unfortunately, Lake Michigan…Read more
Telegram reports sinking of PERE MARQUETTE 18
September 9, 2025The car ferry PERE MARQUETTE 18 sank in Lake Michigan under mysterious circumstances on September 9, 1910. This telegram was sent to officials in the Pere Marquette railroad's head office by Superintendent of Steamships W.L. MERCEREAU two hours after the sinking. MERCEREAU was unaware of the true scope of the disaster and…Read more
