Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.Īt the time of her construction in 1958 the Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ship to sail the Great Lakes with a length of 729’. Northwestern Mutual often purchased ships for operation by other companies and the Edmund Fitzgerald became the flagship of the Oglebay Norton Columbia Transportation fleet.īecause of her remarkable size, the Edmund Fitzgerald was nicknamed “The Queen of the Lakes” and was a favorite for port town sightseers and tourists at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company commissioned the building of the Edmund Fitzgerald and named her after the president of the company, though she quickly earned the nickname “The Fitz.” Lake Superior at Whitefish Point on a calm day: looks can be deceiving The History of the Edmund Fitzgerald Sinking This is the story of one of northern Michigan’s greatest tragedies, the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald: The Titanic of the Great Lakes. Still, no amount of experience and respect for the lake could save the Edmund Fitzgerald from her tragic fate in that infamous storm. They’re pushed and pulled across the lake’s surface, fighting against near hurricane-force winds to make it through Whitefish Bay to the safety of the shore.īoth ships manned by well-seasoned captains and capable crews were no strangers to the power and ferocity of Lake Superior and paid the respect she demanded from any mariners that traversed her waters Anderson as they make their way through one of the toughest bodies of water in the states.
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald rocks with the churning waters of the Mighty Superior, followed behind by the SS Arthur M. Recovery of the Edmund Fitzgerald Bell – Courtesy Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society The Wreck of the SS Edmund FitzgeraldĪ storm brews over Lake Superior and the waves become wicked, rolling and heaving with crests well over twenty feet high. You can find them at Cap’n Jim’s Gallery in St. Captain Jim’s dedication to history, exhaustive research on the Edmund Fitzgerald and more endures in his original paintings, lithographs, pen and ink illustrations and books.
We’re sharing some fabulous images by Michigan artist James Clary (1939 – 2018), one of the country’s most prolific marine artists in this guide. The Edmund Fitzgerald View One by James ClaryĪrtist James Clary and the Edmund Fitzgerald Read on to learn more about the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The Great Lakes are no stranger to shipwrecks, but the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the massive waves she encountered on her journey in hurricane-like weather are legendary. The “Mighty Fitz” carried taconite pellets (iron ore) from Duluth Minnesota to Detroit, Michigan, joining many other ships transporting goods across Great Lakes and the St. In fact, at 729-feet, she was the first laker built to the maximum St. When she was built in 1958, she was the longest ship on the Great Lakes. She was built by the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, the first American life insurer to own a freighter, and.Prior to sinking, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald was well-recognized in shipping for two main reasons: The SS Edmund Fitzgerald – Courtesy Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society Why Was the Edmund Fitzgerald Famous?
We’ve included a complete list of the names of the crewmen lost, and other important information to help you understand the facts and myths around the wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. We’re put together a guide to this infamous tragedy, including a timeline of the event and an exploration of theories as to what caused her to sink. The stunning loss of the hard-working crew was felt around the world, and Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot was compelled to immortalize her in the famous song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Her sinking sent shockwaves: once the largest ship on the Great Lakes, this massive freighter was known as a workhorse on the lakes, thought to be well-built and quite luxurious on the inside as well. TThe Edmund Fitzgerald is the largest ship to have ever sunk in North America’s Great Lakes, and her sinking remains a mystery to this day. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was a Great Lakes Freighter that tragically sank into Lake Superior, near Whitefish Point, on November 10, 1975, carrying 29 crew men to their death after encountering a freak storm.
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