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Bella Roberts graduated in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is originally from Austin, Texas but has always been drawn to other regions of the country and has loved living in Wisconsin for the past 4 years. She is particularly fond of getting to fully experience all 4 seasons.   

By This Author:

Image of the bow of the shipwrecked passenger and freight vessel, George M. Cox. Bow is out of the water and stern is under water to midships resting on the Rock of Ages at Isle Royale, Michigan in Lake Superior. May 1933. Image Courtesy of The Wisconsin Maritime Historical Society.

Wisconsin Waterways: A Great Lakes Legacy Exhibit

The land of the northern Midwest and the water of the Great Lakes are geographically aligned and intimately connected. Lake Michigan and Lake Superior hold rich histories that are deeply intertwined with Wisconsin culture.

Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse. Image courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society ID:59505.

OBJECT HISTORY: Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse

Lighthouses have long been known for their role in navigational assistance and as a beacon for maritime activity. The Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, which sits quaintly on Lake Michigan, is no exception.

View of the Manitowoc shipyards on Lake Michigan, ca. 1939. Image courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society ID: 138844.

Manitowoc and Maritime

The city of Manitowoc has been deeply shaped by its maritime industry. Located directly on the shores of Lake Michigan, Manitowoc’s identity is intimately tied to the Great Lakes. Although maritime industry has evolved over time, it is still important to Manitowoc’s identity and ingrained in the culture of the city.