Belle Isle in Detroit in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald

1958 - 1975

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 22, 2021

1. S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald Marker

Inscription. The flagship of the Oglesbay-Norton fleet sailed for 6,857 days on the Great Lakes carrying iron ore to feed the steel mills of Michigan and Ohio. She was built at the Great Lakes Engineering Works at River Rouge, Michigan- Nine miles west of here. When the keel of the Fitzgerald hit the water, she became the largest freighter to traverse the inland seas - 729 feet long and 75 feet wide.

On January 7,1974, while at anchor in the Detroit River, one mile west of Belle Isle, the Fitzgerald lost her bow anchor. This 12,290 pound artifact lay undisturbed until July 20,1992 when it was recovered. In tribute to the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, and the men who built her, the anchor comes to represent the maritime heritage of the State of Michigan.

John P. Polacsek,
Curator of Marine History

This project could not have been accomplished without the support of the following:

Great Lakes Maritime Institute • Gaelic Tugboat Company
Blue Water Exploration, LTD • Detroit Harbormaster Dive Team
Bruno's Dive Shop • Tom & Jerry's Scuba Shop
John Quasarano Family • Harry J Harris Funeral Home, Inc
WDIV-Channel 4 Detroit • Faust Corporation
William A Moss • Butcher Packer Supply, Inc
US Scuba Center • Advanced Aquatics Diving, Inc
Phil's Quality Meats • Mao

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

Graphics, Inc
Kauear Granite Company • G.E.M.I. Research Team

Erected by Detroit Maritime Historical Museum.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Notable Events • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lost at Sea series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1800.

Location. 42° 20.091′ N, 82° 59.096′ W. Marker is in Detroit, Michigan, in Wayne County. It is in Belle Isle. Marker is on The Strand west of Inselruhe Avenue, on the right when traveling east. On Belle Isle, around the side of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 The Strand, Detroit MI 48207, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald (within shouting distance of this marker); Flag Pole (within shouting distance of this marker); S.S. William Clay Ford / U.S.S. Yantic (within shouting distance of this marker); War of 1812 Cannons (within shouting distance of this marker); Perry's Victory (within shouting distance of this marker);

Anchor and SS Edmund Fitzgerald Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Barrera, December 11, 2008

2. Anchor and SS Edmund Fitzgerald Marker

History of the Canals (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Japanese Stone Lantern (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Detroit.

Regarding S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald. It was named after the president and chairman of the board of Milwaukee Drydock Company. The freighter sank November 9, 1975 in a storm on Lake Superior with the loss of all 29 crew.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia Entry for SS Edmund Fitzgerald. “Carrying a full cargo of ore pellets with Captain Ernest M. McSorley in command, she embarked on her final voyage from Superior, Wisconsin, near Duluth, on the afternoon of November 9, 1975. En route to a steel mill near Detroit, Michigan, the Fitz joined a second freighter, the SS Arthur M. Anderson. But by the next day, the two ships were caught in the midst of a severe winter storm on Lake Superior, with near hurricane-force winds and waves up to 35 feet (11 m) high. Shortly after 7:10 p.m., the Fitzgerald suddenly sank in Canadian waters 530 feet

S. S. <i>Edmund Fitzgerald</i> image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Greenmars, 1971

3. S. S. Edmund Fitzgerald

Photo obtained via Wikipedia Commons. Click for rights information.
Click for more information.

(160 m) deep, approximately 17 miles (15 nautical miles; 27 kilometers) from the entrance to Whitefish Bay near the twin cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario—a distance the Fitzgerald could have covered in two hours at her top speed. Although the Fitzgerald had reported being in difficulty earlier, no distress signals were sent before she sank; Captain McSorley’s last message to the Anderson said, ‘We are holding our own.’ Her crew of 29 all perished, and no bodies were recovered.” (Submitted on November 8, 2014.)

2. “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” - Gordon Lightfoot. This ballad, written and performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, reached No. 1 on the RPM National Singles Survey in Canada and No. 2 on the Billboard pop chart in the United States in 1976. (Submitted on November 8, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)

Additional keywords. S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald

SS Edmund Fitzgerald Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Barrera, December 11, 2008

4. SS Edmund Fitzgerald Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2008, by Al Barrera of Brownstown, Michigan. This page has been viewed 5,365 times since then and 72 times this year. Last updated on July 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1. submitted on July 22, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 2. submitted on December 13, 2008, by Al Barrera of Brownstown, Michigan. 3. submitted on November 8, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on December 13, 2008, by Al Barrera of Brownstown, Michigan. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.