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.
A GUN THAT SAVES LIVES – FROM THE WMHS COLLECTION
February 7, 2025By James Heinz Most guns are designed to take lives. The WMHS collection contains a gun that saves lives. You can see it at the North Point lighthouse in Milwaukee, Wis., where it is on loan from WMHS. In times past, ships would often strand in the surf close to…Read more
Milwaukee Built schooner STARKE ends career in Louisiana
February 5, 2025On this day February 5, 1906, the Milwaukee built 3 masted schooner STARKE stranded on Chandeleur Island, Louisiana. She was built by Robert Allan and George McClelland of the Milwaukee Shipyard Co. in 1876. Alex Allan was her master builder. She was 124 feet in length and 27 feet in…Read more
On This Day the IOWA was crushed by ice
February 4, 2025On this day February 4, 1915, the Goodrich wooden passenger steamer IOWA was crushed by ice off Chicago sinking about three miles off the river mouth. Huge cakes of ice surged against the sides of the ship causing leaks and punctures. The crew tried to stop the leaks but…Read more
THAT BOAT THAT KEEPS MILWAUKEE’S HARBOR SAFE
February 2, 2025By James Heinz Milwaukee’s famous harbor workboat, the HARBOR SEAGULL, sank in 2021 https://wmhs.org/life-death-and-rebirth-of-milwaukee-ports-harbor-seagull/. Fortunately, Port Milwaukee had another vessel to do the job. The workboat JOEY D. was launched in 2011 at the Great Lakes Shipyard in Cleveland, Ohio. She was designed by Jensen Marine Consultants of Seattle, Wash.,…Read more
WHEN COLUMBUS SAILED THE GREAT LAKES
February 1, 2025By James Heinz Actually, it was a replica of his flagship, the SANTA MARIA. And there are actually several replicas. I wrote a previous story about when a replica Viking ship sailed the Great Lakes: https://wmhs.org/when-a-viking-ship-sailed-the-great-lakes/ And just like the Viking ship, the first SANTA MARIA replica was built to…Read more
JAMES R. BARKER arrived in Sturgeon Bay
January 23, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V JAMES R. BARKER arrived midday at the mouth of Sturgeon Bay Monday, January 20th after a long battle with ice on the bay of Green Bay the previous night. The BARKER pivoted and backed to within 2 miles of the…Read more
PAUL R. TREGURTHA arrived in Sturgeon Bay
January 23, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V PAUL R. TREGURTHA arrived at the mouth of Sturgeon Bay early Monday morning January 20th, after a long battle with ice on the bay of Green Bay assisted by the USCGC MACKINAW. With assistance from the tugs DONALD J. SARTER,…Read more
The ALABAMA stuck in ice off Muskegon, Michigan
January 22, 2025On this day, January 22, 1918, the Goodrich steamer ALABAMA was stuck in the ice off Muskegon. As you can see from the photos, that winter was rather harsh. We may have just had a cold spell here on the Great Lakes but we certainly did not have ice like…Read more
ON THIS DAY: A SHIP NAMED FOR A BRAVE AMERICAN WAS PLACED IN SERVICE
January 18, 2025By James Heinz There are soldiers, and there are warriors. This is the story of a true American warrior, and of the ship that is named for him. USNS RED CLOUD courtesy of Wikipedia On January 18, 2000, the U.S. Navy placed into service a ship named the USNS…Read more
STEWART J. CORT arrives in Sturgeon Bay
January 17, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V STEWART J. CORT arrived at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard, Thursday, January 16th. The vessel pivoted at the mouth of Sturgeon Bay, then backed the six miles up the Sturgeon Bay channel to the yard. It then backed into the…Read more
JOSEPH L. BLOCK arrives in Sturgeon Bay
January 16, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V JOSEPH L. BLOCK arrived at the entrance to the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal early morning on Monday, January 13th. She proceeded down the bay, through the three Sturgeon Bay bridges, pivoted and backed into her slip for winter layup at…Read more
PERE MARQUETTE 4 Sunk by Gunfire
January 11, 2025On this day January 11, 1937, the PERE MARQUETTE 4 was fired upon and sunk by gunfire from the US Coast Guard about 11 miles off Evanston. Photo at top of page is PERE MARQUETTE 4 being sunk by gunfire off Evanston, January 11, 1937 PERE MARQUETTE…Read more
