50th Anniversary Commemoration For Edmund Fitzgerald Being Held In Minnesota

The SS Edmund Fitzgerald, a United States bulk carrier, sank in a severe November storm on Lake Superior on November 10, 1975, killing all 29 crew members. The ship was on a routine delivery of iron ore when it encountered hurricane-force winds and 20-foot-high waves, leading to a rapid loss of buoyancy and a sudden disappearance from radar.

Now, as the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald approaches this November, the Split Rock Lighthouse and the Minnesota Historical Society announced plans to observe the tragic date and pay homage to the brave crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald and all those lost within Lake Superior's waters.

On Monday, November 10, at 4 pm, the lighthouse will temporarily close for a rendition of the naval hymn, followed by the names of the 29 crew members read aloud to the tolling of a ship’s bell. After the ceremony, the beacon will be lit in their honor, and the lighthouse tower will reopen to visitors until 6 pm.

Former Split Rock Lighthouse Site Manager Lee Radzak will also be on-site to discuss why he started the annual memorial 40 years ago. The 204th Army Band from Fort Snelling will also perform.

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Organizers expect large crowds for the event, so those who plan on attending in person are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance and arrive early.

Tickets and Parking For 50th Anniversary Commemoration

Tickets to the ceremony include all-day admission on November 10 and cost $15 for adults. College students, military members, and seniors are eligible for $12 tickets. Tickets for children ages 5-17 cost $8, and admission is free for children ages 4 and under and MNHS members.

Off-site parking with shuttle service to and from the lighthouse will be available for visitors. Parking is located near the Silver Bay Business Park (near Black Beach Inn Hotel), at 150 Mensing Drive in Silver Bay, Minnesota.

IMPORTANT: The free shuttles will run between the parking area and the Split Rock Lighthouse Historic Site beginning around 1 pm, with the last shuttle departing at 3:15 pm. Therefore, attendees must arrive and park between 1 pm and 3 pm.

For those not in attendance, the event will also be streamed on Split Rock Lighthouse’s Facebook Page and the Minnesota Historical Society’s YouTube channel.

Special Panel Discussion To Be Held On November 20

In addition to the Annual Beacon Lighting, the Minnesota History Center, located at 345 W. Kellogg Boulevard in St. Paul, announced it will be hosting a special panel discussion titled The Enduring Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald on Thursday, November 20.

This conversation will discuss the reasons the Edmund Fitzgerald continues to resonate so deeply across generations. The panel discussion is free to attend, and it will also be live-streamed on the MNHS YouTube channel.

Panelists expected to be in attendance include Split Rock Lighthouse Site Manager Hayes Scriven; John U. Bacon, author of the new book The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald; Bruce Lynn, the Executive Director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum; and former Split Rock Lighthouse Site Manager Lee Radzak.