Edmund Fitzgerald Sinking Claims 29 Lives on Lake Superior 1975

The SS Edmund Fitzgerald, once the largest freighter on the Great Lakes, sank in a violent storm on Lake Superior on November 10, 1975, resulting in the loss of all 29 crew members. Despite multiple theories—including striking a shoal, flooding through hatch covers, rogue waves, and structural flaws—the exact cause of the sinking remains uncertain, with the U.S. Coast Guard's investigation highlighting massive flooding through ineffective hatch closures as the most probable cause. The ship was known as "The Mighty Fitz" and was built to the maximum size allowed by the Soo Locks, carrying iron ore on its final voyage. Its story has endured in popular memory, largely due to Gordon Lightfoot's 1976 folk ballad, and the ship remains a symbol of the power of Lake Superior. Divers have explored the wreck over the years, capturing striking images and encountering unexplained phenomena around the site. The 50th anniversary of the ship's sinking has prompted renewed interest, including special media coverage and public remembrances honoring the crew and the ship's legacy.