The S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, a freighter belonging to the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, sank on Nov. 10, 1975, in Lake Superior during a violent storm, leading to a tragic loss of all 29 crewmembers onboard. The incident is one of the most well-known maritime disasters in the history of the Great Lakes region. The vessel was caught in a severe late autumn storm, with near-hurricane force winds and massive waves. The ship sent its last communication in the evening and then mysteriously disappeared.

The mysterious circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald have led to various speculations and theories about what actually happened. Photographic evidences from the ship’s wreckage, broken into two and resting at the bottom of Lake Superior, have not provided any definitive answers but served only to deepen the enigma. The images of the ship’s shattered hull, resting silently at the lake bottom, have been described as haunting and unsettling.

Annually on the anniversary of the sinking, large crowds gather at the Split Rock Lighthouse for a beacon-lighting ceremony and memorial to honor the ship and its crew. The event, which just observed its 48th year, draws attendees from all walks of life, reflecting the enduring interest and pathos that this maritime disaster continues to inspire. Despite the passage of time, the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald continues to captivate and puzzle those who delve into it.