Near Silver Bay in Lake County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Gales of November
— Split Rock Lighthouse —
July 27, 2022
1. The Gales of November Marker
It's the early morning hours of November 28, 1905.
Imagine yourself standing right here in the middle of one of the worst storms in Great Lakes history: 65-mile-per-hour winds, blinding snow, and 30-foot waves crashing into the cliff.
The Shipwreck Madeira
At the height of the storm, the 5,000-ton steel barge Madeira smashed into the distant cliff in front of you. All but one of the crew of ten escaped. The wrecked ship still lies off of Gold Point and is a popular dive site.
Nearly 30 ships were wrecked or damaged on Lake Superior during this storm. The scale of the destruction was a major reason why Split Rock Lighthouse was built here in 1910.
Painting of Madeira wrecking on Gold Rock Point, by Kurt Carlson. Courtesy of Great Lakes Historical Society, Whitefish Point, Michigan.
Erected by Minnesota Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is November 28, 1905.
Location. 47° 12.028′ N, 91° 21.97′ W. Marker is near Silver Bay, Minnesota, in Lake County. Marker can be reached from Split Rock Lighthouse Road, half a mile south of North Shore
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Steam Engine Hoist (here, next to this marker); Oil House (within shouting distance of this marker); Geology of the Split Rock Region (within shouting distance of this marker); Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Fog Signal (within shouting distance of this marker); Home Away From Home (within shouting distance of this marker); Storage Barn (within shouting distance of this marker); Anchor of the Madeira (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Silver Bay.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for the schooner barge Madeira. Excerpt:
On November 28, 1905, Madeira, under tow of the steamer William Edenborn, was caught in a fierce storm with winds around 70 to 80 miles per hour, blowing snow onto the deck and kicking up huge swells. The captain of William Edenborn feared the loss of his ship and made the decision to cut the Madeira loose. Some speculated at the time that the crew tried to(Submitted on November 19, 2022.)set anchor and ride out the storm, but the wreck site later revealed that both anchors were still intact at the bow. About two hours after it was cut loose, Madeira crashed into a cliff named Gold Rock. One of the crewmen leapt to shore with a safety line and was able to bring eight other men to safety. The first mate went down with the ship. Two days later, the tugboat Edna G rescued the stranded crewmen.July 27, 20222. The Gales of November Marker
July 27, 2022
3. Gold Rock Point, nearby view
4. Close Up of the Image Shown on the Marker
This is an image of the oil painting “Madeira Wrecking on Gold Rock Point” by Kurt Carlson, located at the Great Lakes Historical Society in Whitefish Point, Michigan.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2022. This page has been viewed 393 times since then and 32 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week November 20, 2022. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 17, 2022.
