Commemorating 50 Years: The Edmund Fitzgerald remembered with shipwreck historian Ric Mixter

Commemorating 50 Years: The Edmund Fitzgerald remembered with shipwreck historian Ric Mixter

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The University of Wisconsin-Superior will host a powerful afternoon marking the 50th anniversary of the tragic sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the most iconic shipwreck in Great Lakes history.

The free and open to the community commemorative event taking place Saturday, November 8, at 4 p.m. on the second floor or UW-Superior’s Jim Dan Hill Library will feature a compelling lecture by renowned shipwreck historian Ric Mixter, followed by a musical tribute, including Gordon Lightfoot’s haunting ballad inspired by the disaster.

Mixter, one of the few people to have personally visited the Fitzgerald wreck site—diving 550 feet beneath Lake Superior in a submersible—will share over two decades of research into the fate of the vessel and her 29 lost crew members. His presentation includes rare archival footage, interviews with shipbuilders, former crew members, and insights from key investigations, including the U.S. Coast Guard, Jacques Cousteau’s 1980 expedition and the 1995 bell recovery mission.

Mixter’s lecture explores the theories surrounding the ship’s mysterious final moments during a fierce November storm in 1975 and features exclusive interviews with Jean-Michel Cousteau and others directly involved in the search and research efforts.

Following the presentation, attendees are invited to a Q&A session and musical performance honoring the legacy of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Light refreshments and an opportunity for conversation will conclude the event.

This is a rare opportunity to revisit a profound chapter in maritime history with one of its leading experts.

The event is presented in partnership with UW-Superior and the Douglas County Historical Society, as part of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s History Makers Tour, presented by Culver’s.

About the History Makers Tour

The Wisconsin Historical Society History Makers Tour, presented by Culver’s, brings leading historians and storytellers to communities across the state, celebrating Wisconsin’s rich and diverse heritage.