SS Edmund Fitzgerald, an American Great Lakes freighter, met its tragic end on November 10, 1975, when it sank in Lake Superior during a severe storm. The vessel was carrying a full cargo of taconite iron ore pellets and had a crew of 29 on board, all of whom perished in the disaster. Launched on June 7, 1958, the Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ship on the Great Lakes at the time and maintained that distinction even after its sinking.
For 17 years, the Fitzgerald had been an essential workhorse, transporting taconite iron ore from mines near Duluth, Minnesota, to various iron works in Detroit, Toledo, and other Great Lakes ports. It set seasonal haul records six times, gaining admiration from boat watchers for its record-breaking performance. Captain Peter Pulcer, fondly known as the “DJ captain,” would pipe music through the ship’s intercom while passing through the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers, entertaining spectators at the Soo Locks with commentary about the ship.
On its final voyage, the Fitzgerald, under the command of Captain Ernest M. McSorley, embarked from Superior, Wisconsin, near Duluth, heading for a steel mill near Detroit. The ship sailed alongside the SS Arthur M. Anderson. Both vessels encountered a severe storm on Lake Superior, with near hurricane-force winds and waves reaching up to 35 feet high. At around 7:10 p.m. on November 10, 1975, the Fitzgerald suddenly sank in Canadian waters, approximately 17 miles from Whitefish Bay, close to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Despite earlier reports of difficulty, no distress signals were sent before the ship went down. Captain McSorley’s last message to the Anderson was, “We are holding our own.” Unfortunately, none of the crew survived, and no bodies were recovered.
The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald became one of the most famous disasters in the history of Great Lakes shipping. Many theories have been explored to explain the ship’s sinking, including the possibility of structural failure, water entering through the cargo hatches or deck, topside damage, or grounding in shallow waters. The actual cause remains uncertain.
The tragedy inspired Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot to write the hit song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” in 1976, after reading an article about the incident in Newsweek. The sinking also led to significant changes in Great Lakes shipping regulations and practices, including the implementation of mandatory survival suits, depth finders, positioning systems, increased freeboard, and more frequent vessel inspections.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was named after its president and chairman of the board, Edmund Fitzgerald, whose family had a deep connection to the shipping industry. Despite an eventful launch ceremony plagued by misfortunes, the vessel set sail, becoming an iconic ship on the Great Lakes.
The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald was discovered on November 14, 1975, by a U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft equipped to detect magnetic anomalies. To this day, the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald remains a haunting and enduring part of Great Lakes shipping history, leaving a lasting legacy in the memories of those who recall the tragic event and the brave crew who lost their lives.
