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.
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
USS COBIA arrives at Fincantieri
September 9, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the U.S.S COBIA (SS 245) arrived at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard, the afternoon of September 7th. The lake tugs NICKELENA and ERIKA KOBASIC towed the submarine through the Sturgeon Bay ship canal, through Sturgeon Bay’s three bridges then to the yard…Read more
Association for Great Lakes Maritime History Conference in Milwaukee
September 9, 2025Milwaukee was the location of the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History Conference on September 4 thru the 6th. It was a great conference. Many interesting programs and tours were scheduled. The Wisconsin Marine Historical Society had the pleasure of hosting lunch and a tour of the Great Lakes Marine…Read more
Milwaukee Fire Department Honored
September 1, 2025The Milwaukee Fire Department was honored by the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society on their 150th anniversary. Chief Aaron Lipski was presented with this plaque at the South Shore Yacht Club by WMHS President Todd Gordon on August 28th. The group was then treated to a powerpoint by James Heinz on…Read more
INDIANA HARBOR takes on a cargo of coal
September 1, 2025Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that on Wednesday, August 27th, the INDIANA HARBOR was taking on a cargo of coal at the Midwest Energy Terminal in Superior, Wisconsin. The INDIANA HARBOR was built in 1979 at Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and is 1,000 feet long. Photos by Elmer Engman -----------------------------…Read more
The WILLIAM B. DICKSON is launched at Ecorse
August 27, 2025On this day August 27, 1910, the steel steamer WILLIAM B. DICKSON was launched at Ecorse, Mich., by the Great Lakes Engineering Works. Built for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company she measured 600 feet over all in length, 58.2 feet in beam and 33.2 feet in depth. Named in honor…Read more
Spar & Sinbad Honored
August 26, 2025On August 26th we honored two World War II Coast Guard mascots for International Dog Day. The first is Spar. Featured here wearing her dress blues, complete with first class yeoman rating, campaign ribbons which she earned and wings for her plane jump. Spar in this photo is a two-year-old…Read more
STEWART J. CORT Arrives at Fincantieri
August 25, 2025Tom Wenstadt, our Door County correspondent, reports that the M/V STEWART J. CORT arrived at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard, Friday, August 22nd. 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
Rawley Point from the Air – Wreck Three
August 25, 2025By James Heinz Here is the third in a series of photos taken by me from my Cessna 172 of the shipwrecks of Rawley Point. There are 12 identified and 10 unidentified shipwrecks off Rawley Point. This one appears to be a small sailing vessel. It is pointed towards the…Read more
