Gales of November Conference Attracts Over 200 Attendees

DULUTH, Minn. — The 38th annual Gales of November maritime conference drew over 200 attendees to the DECC during Nov 7-8.

The educational fundraising event included a maritime trade show, silent auction, and several keynote speakers sharing their insight on the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald as tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of its tragic sinking on Lake Superior.

“There’s a lot of maritime history here, and those that have grown up along the shore understand the importance of the maritime industry to Duluth Superior and all of the communities along Lake Superior. And there’s such traction and a feeling of belonging to the maritime industry,” said David Schauer, president of the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association.

This year, the event’s main focus was an in-depth exploration of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, marking its 50th anniversary. In addition, attendees received education on underwater exploration, Great Lakes lighthouses and shipwrecks, maritime history, and diving technology.

Among keynote speakers was shipwreck historian, Ric Mixter, who said, “this is an absolute thrill to be here at Gales, because this is the place where the Edmund Fitzgerald left out of Superior, Wisconsin in 1975. So I get to highlight all of the investigations that have happened, from the Coast Guard all the way through Jacques Cousteau to the investigation that we did in 1994 in the Delta submersible.”

Funds collected at the Gales of November event support the maintenance and preservation of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center and Marine Museum. Recently, the LSMMA acquired the South Pier lighthouse in Canal Park, where the funds will also be used to restore the lighthouse.