By James Heinz
2025 is the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the SS EDMUND FITZGERALD on November 10th. Although gone, the ship is not forgotten. Numerous memorials to her still exist.
Photo at top of page: The EDMUND FITZGERALD dated 1975, photo courtesy of Bob Campbell
The memorial that is most familiar is the 1976 recording “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot. https://wmhs.org/the-man-who-sang-the-song-that-made-the-ship-immortal-has-died/
The Mariner’s Church of Detroit courtesy of Wikipedia
As immortalized in the song, the day after the ship sank the Mariner’s Church of Detroit rang its bell 29 times, “once for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.” The Church continues to conduct the memorial, but has broadened it to include all the sailors lost on the Lakes.
The Anchor of the EDMUND FITZGERALD lost in 1974 courtesy of Wikipedia
An anchor that the FITZ lost in 1974 is on display at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit, which also holds a memorial ceremony on November 10th. There are three memorial plaques within a few feet of each other near the museum.
The Bell of the EDMUND FITZGERALD recovered in 1995 courtesy of Wikipedia
The ship’s bell was recovered in 1995 and is currently on display at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum on the same Whitefish Point that the ship was desperately trying to reach. A cenotaph to Captain Ernest McSorley is located on the museum grounds.
Capt. Ernest M. McSorley courtesy of Find a Grave
There is also a separate monument to the ship at Paradise, Mich., on Whitefish Point.
Lifeboat of the EDMUND FITZGERALD courtesy of Wikipedia
The Steamship Valley Camp Museum in Sault Saint Marie, Mich., displays two of the ship’s lifeboats, both damaged by the ship’s propeller, as well as other artifacts.
Split Rock Lighthouse courtesy of Wikipedia
The Split Rock Lighthouse on Minnesota’s North Shore sends out a beam of light every November 10th as a memorial.
A 16 foot high memorial statue on Barker’s Island, Superior, Wis., dedicated to all seamen lost on the Lakes was prompted by the loss of the ship. A group in Superior is trying to get the Wisconsin Historical Society to erect an historical marker to commemorate the ship.
One stage play, one musical play, and a piano concerto have been written about the ship.
An Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim will be held from July 26 to August 28, 2025. It will cover 411 miles in 17 stages, starting at the wreck site and ending at the St. Clair River.
Amazon shows a total of 28 books and 17 videos about the wreck.
The parents of a former Sheriff of Barron County, Wis., was named Edmund Fitzgerald by his parents after the ship.
EDMUND FITZGERALD Porter by Great Lakes Brewing
Great Lakes Brewing brews a commemorative beer called Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, which it refers to as “a bittersweet tribute to the ship’s crew”.
WMHS board of directors’ member Dr. Ashley Lemke serves this beer at her annual November 10th commemoration of the sinking as the song plays as often as the venue will permit, until other patrons complain that the song provokes even more sorrows than the ones they came to the bar to drown in the first place.
Finally, the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society has a number of memorials to the ship, as well as the true cause of the ship’s sinking. More about that in another article.
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James Heinz is the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society’s acquisitions director. He became interested in maritime history as a kid watching Jacques Cousteau’s adventures on TV. He was a Great Lakes wreck diver until three episodes of the bends forced him to retire from diving. He was a University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee police officer for thirty years. He regularly flies either a Cessna 152 or 172.
