Fate of the Edmund Fitzgerald - 2025

The Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ore ship to ply the waters of the Great Lakes.  She was 729 feet in length and was carrying enough iron ore (tektites) to build 5,000 cars.  She was sailing from the west end of Lake Superior (Wisconsin) to the Straits of Sault Ste. Marie when she went down in a storm on November 10, 1975.  The location of the wreck is in 530 feet of water on the sea bed, 10 miles from Whitefish Point on the southern shore of Lake Superior.  Lake Superior is known for its high waves in stormy weather. 

On the night of the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald, there was a strong nor’easter wind that was driving the water in the direction of the entire length of Lake Superior.  This would create monstrous waves called “rogue waves” which would come in in series of 2-3 waves at a time.  These waves ordinarily were 35-40 feet but could be up as tall as 85 feet or more. 

This was one of the worst storms to occur on Lake Superior which could be worse than ocean storms.  The center of the Edmund Fitzgerald was welded rather than bolted, and this was her weakest point.  The ship’s captain was in contact with another ship named the Anderson who told the captain of the Anderson that, “These are the worst seas I have seen, but we are holding our own.”  
 
The lights of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which were visible to the Anderson, suddenly disappeared, and there was no more radio contact.  The Edmund Fitzgerald went down in 530 feet of water.  It is postulated that she was caught between two giant rogue waves and snapped in the center because the rear part of the ship, with the engine still running, was found on the floor of Lake Superior in front of the forward section.  

In this oil painting by Grant R. Fairbanks, the artist has depicted in what he believes was the fate of the Edmund Fitzgerald.  Some artifacts and photographs can be seen at the Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point where there is a lighthouse.  There remains a great deal of controversy over the fate of the Edmund Fitzgerald.  As the action force in a storm is at the surface, it is the artist’s belief that the Edmund Fitzgerald was torn apart by two gigantic rogue waves, perhaps larger than had ever been seen before.  The Edmund Fitzgerald disappeared suddenly without any distress calls, and there were no survivors. 

Copies of the painting are available for purchase.