Spilt Rock Lighthouse Remembers Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald

SILVER BAY, Minn. — November 10th, 1975 the Edmund Fitzgerald left it’s port in Superior, Wisconsin and began its journey towards Michigan.

Now 48 years later the Spilt Rock Lighthouse beacon was lit up to honor the fallen crew.

Hundreds of people gathered at the lighthouse to remember each of the 29 crew members that were killed during the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The names of each crew member were read off, and with each — a bell toll followed.

The bell was rung one more time to remember all sailors who have lost their lives on the Great Lakes.

After the remembrance ceremony, people had the rare chance to see the lighthouses beacon lit up.

“It’s been 48 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald underwent her final journey across Lake Superior, while the Edmund Fitzgerald is the best known shipwreck on Lake Superior, she was only the most recent to occur with the loss of life,” said Hayes Scriven, Split Rock Lighthouse Site Manager.

The lighting of the lighthouse beacon has become an annual tradition on November 10th, the anniversary of the shipwreck.

This year was the first year that Duluth Coast Guard Members attended the ceremony in recognition of the impact the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald had on modern shipping safety.