OBJECT HISTORY: Lifesaving Medal

All along Wisconsin’s 820 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, storms could mean the difference between profit and financial ruin, survival and terrifying death. This lifesaving medal reminds us of the risks that sailors and Wisconsin’s maritime communities have routinely faced since the early 19th century. It documents the personal bravery, dedication, and ingenuity of those who rescued their fellows from disaster.

Listen to the Lifesaving Medal segment on Wisconsin Public Radio’s Wisconsin Life.

Written by David Driscoll

Special thanks to Tamara Thomsen, underwater archaeologist with the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Maritime Preservation Program.

Object courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society.
(Wisconsin Historical Museum object 1972.31.)