When the Edmund Fitzgerald entered service in 1958, she was the largest freighter on the Great Lakes. Built to transport iron ore, she became a familiar presence on the lakes, earning a reputation for her size and record-breaking loads during an 18-year working career.

On November 10, 1975, the Fitzgerald sank during a fierce storm on Lake Superior, taking all 29 crew members with her. The disaster became one of the most widely remembered tragedies in Great Lakes history. Gordon Lightfoot’s song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” brought her story to audiences around the world and helped preserve the memory of the ship and her crew.

Christopher Gillcrist, former director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes, explores the shipping history that led to the Fitzgerald, her remarkable career, and the circumstances surrounding her final voyage. The program examines several prevailing theories about her loss and considers why, decades later, the question of what really happened continues to fascinate.

Join the museum for a closer look at the vessel, the tragedy, and the enduring legacy of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Program Details

This event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 PM. The lecture will be held in the CRF Museum Lecture Hall.