“The church bell chimed till it rang twenty-nine times.”
On a November night 50 years ago, a Great Lakes freighter named the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior during a storm. All 29 crew members were lost.
Why does it matter?
It is very sad when people die, but why have we heard of this particular shipwreck? Haven’t there been lots of shipwrecks?
There have been quite a few shipwrecks on Lake Superior, especially off Whitefish Point, where the Mighty Fitz went down. In fact, this area is known as the “Graveyard of the Great Lakes” and is now an Underwater Preserve. However, when the Fitzgerald launched on June 7, 1958, she was the largest ship on the Great Lakes, and to this day, she remains the largest to have ever sunk there.
The disaster also led to a number of important changes in Great Lakes shipping regulations and practices, including requiring ships to carry immersion survival suits, depth finders and positioning systems. They also increased the minimum distance from waterline to upper deck, and required more frequent inspections.
Sing Me a Song
The tragedy also remains one of the best-known shipwrecks because singer Gordon Lightfoot made it the subject of a hit song after reading about the wreck in Newsweek. The line above refers to Mariners’ Church in downtown Detroit, which today stands right next to the entrance to the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and whose bell rang out 29 times in memoriam a week after the wreck.
A “mariner” is a sailor, seaman or seafarer who works aboard a watercraft as part of its crew, or who may work in a variety of fields that are related to the operation and maintenance of a ship. The land for the church was donated to become a “special mission for mariners” in 1842, shortly after the opening of the Erie Canal, which had dramatically increased the number of ships traveling the Great Lakes.
Mariners’ Church holds a public Blessing of the Fleet each March for those going to sea. Since the sinking of the Fitzgerald in 1975, it also holds a Great Lakes Memorial Service every November for those who have lost their lives at sea. The church itself has beautiful stained-glass windows with nautical scenes and a slightly sunken aspect, making for an atmospheric visit any time of year.
Light a Candle
If you want to participate in Fitz-related activities this fall, Mariners’ Church is hosting several 50th Anniversary events in addition to the annual Memorial Service. Check out the details here.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is also holding a special 50th anniversary event. You’re too late to be part of the memorial swim, but you can still check out the streaming service, and stay tuned for the upcoming swim documentary.
If you want a more hands-on experience, you can also visit the ship’s bow anchor and join a lantern vigil at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle.
Learn More About the Fitzgerald
So Cold a Sky by Karl Bohnak offers an oral history of local weather, including the story of the storm and sinking, with interviews from eyewitnesses.
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, written by Frederick Stonehouse shortly after the wreck, explores the many theories about the cause of the tragedy.
The Gales of November by John U. Bacon retells the story from the perspective of history.
Dive Detectives Season 1, Episode 1: The Edmund Fitzgerald takes you underwater to the wreck itself.
Summertime Dream by Gordon Lightfoot: re-listen to the song, now that you know the story.
Just want to geek out about boats?
- The International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Knowledge Centre is a great place to start.
- Track many of the world's current vessels through the Marine Traffic project and plan your next freighter-watch party.
- See Great Lakes freighters through the Detroit RiverCam or the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum’s live weathercam at Whitefish Point.
- Follow the Boatnerd forum for regular port reports and other news about Great Lakes and seaway shipping from like-minded enthusiasts.
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