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 ALGOMA INTREPID unloads salt
July 7, 2025Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that the ALGOMA INTREPID was in Duluth today (7/7/2025) unloading a cargo of salt, for their nice winters. Hard to think about winter in July but Duluth is planning ahead. Photos by Elmer Engman ----------------------------- Elmer Engman is a long time resident of the…Read more
On this day the S. T. CRAPO was launched
July 7, 2025On this day July 7, 1927, the S. T. CRAPO was launched by the Great Lakes Engineering Works. Built for the Huron Transportation Company, the steel steamer was properly announced in the Marine Review of August 1927: “The Great Lakes Engineering Works at Detroit successfully launched the self-unloading cement…Read more
AMERICAN SPIRIT in Duluth
July 4, 2025Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that on July 3rd, the AMERICAN SPIRIT was taking on a cargo of taconite at the CN ore dock. A nice day finally in the Duluth harbor. The AMERICAN SPIRIT made local news in June 17, 2018, when she missed the turn into the…Read more
CLYDE S. VAN ENKEVORT in for repairs
July 4, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the integrated tug barge CLYDE S. VAN ENKEVORT/ERIE TRADER arrived at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard the morning of July 2, 2025. The ERIE TRADER was docked at the main storage pier while the CLYDE S. was towed into the graving dock…Read more
New Canadian Ferry in Duluth Harbor
July 3, 2025Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that on July 1st a new vessel was seen in the Duluth harbor undergoing sea trials. It was the Canadian ferry NIIGAAN ENAAZHEK. Launched on November 11, 2024 at the Fraser Shipyard in Superior, Wis., the vessel is 209 feet long. She will go…Read more
The AGNES W. goes ashore
July 3, 2025On this day July 3, 1918, the AGNES W. went ashore on Drummond Island about ten miles east of Detour with a cargo of grain. Thick fog and smoke from fires on Drummond Island were the cause. She was reported to be full of water and later pounded to pieces. …Read more
BURNS HARBOR leaves Duluth
July 2, 2025Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that the BURNS HARBOR was leaving Duluth this sunny day with a cargo of taconite. Built in 1980 by the Bay Shipbuilding Corporation at Sturgeon Bay, Wis., the BURNS HARBOR sailed on its maiden voyage light from Sturgeon Bay on September 28, 1980,…Read more
THE CAUSE OF THE SINKING OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD IS IN THE MILWAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY
June 29, 2025BY James Heinz As I noted in a previous story about the death of Gordon Lightfoot, (https://wmhs.org/the-man-who-sang-the-song-that-made-the-ship-immortal-has-died/) “Perhaps the only bad effect of the song is that it inspired a cottage industry of speculation on why the ship sank that has turned the Big FITZ’s sinking into something like the…Read more
A SHIPWRECK AT SUMMERFEST
June 25, 2025By James Heinz Summerfest, the greatest music festival in the world, takes place on Milwaukee’s lakefront. Eating delicious food, listening to great music, and people watching are not the only things you can do at Summerfest. There is one other thing that you can do: Visit an historic shipwreck. Photo…Read more
FEDERAL FRONTIER visits Milwaukee
June 20, 2025Our Milwaukee area correspondent, Bruce Nason, captured this photo Thursday, June 19th, at the Port of Milwaukee Dock One. The MV FEDERAL FRONTIER is unloading what appears to be “general cargo”. She is flagged from Majuro, in the Marshall Islands. --------- Bruce Nason is a retired news photographer and Assignments…Read more
THE BIG FITZ IS STILL REMEMBERED
June 20, 2025By James Heinz 2025 is the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the SS EDMUND FITZGERALD on November 10th. Although gone, the ship is not forgotten. Numerous memorials to her still exist. Photo at top of page: The EDMUND FITZGERALD dated 1975, photo courtesy of Bob Campbell The memorial that…Read more
Pass the salt please…..for my soybeans…….busy morning at Port of Milwaukee
June 15, 2025Our Milwaukee area correspondent, Bruce Nason, captured these photos Friday morning at the Port of Milwaukee. The MV MARK W. BARKER was unloading salt while the MV REGGEBORG, homeport of Dilfzijl, Netherlands, was at the new bulk agriculture export dock. Dilfzijl is a seaport on the boarder of the Netherlands…Read more
