Split Rock Lighthouse Remembers the Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald

The lighthouse holds an annual remembrance ceremony with a bell ringing and the lighting of the lighthouse.

The Edmund Fitzgerald was carrying taconite on its way to Detroit and sank on the eastern end of Lake Superior. The Split Rock Lighthouse remembered the crew of the Fitzgerald as well as all of those who have lost their lives on the lake.

Every year since the tenth anniversary of the ship’s sinking, Split Rock has held a special night of remembrance. They light the beacon and ring the bell for each crewman lost.

“It really brings it home to a lot of people that live around Lake Superior. Doesn’t matter snow or wind or 20 degrees or 50 degrees like it is now, it’s a great time for everybody to be out here and for us to be able to share this with everyone,” said Lee Radzak, historic site manager at Split Rock.

The night of this year’s ceremony was picture perfect while many remembered the night of November 10th, 1975 that wasn’t so serene.

“The Edmund Fitzgerald is a part of this lore of this lake, this area and you just have to come up here and experience it once in your lifetime. I’ve been up here multiple times it never gets old,” said Eric Morgan, who drove from Prior Lake for the ceremony.

Although the Fitzgerald sank on the other end of Lake Superior, the Split Rock Lighthouse beacon shines bright.

“It really is a meaningful time for us to do this and Split Rock is the place to do it because the Fitzgerald sailed past here on November 9th the night before it sank,” said Radzak.

For some it’s an annual tradition to come to Split Rock on this night.

“I’ve been up here three times for the ceremony, you feel it…all those mariners on the lake,” said Morgan.

The sun shone brightly on this warm fall day, but each ring of the bell reminds everyone of the lake’s chilling waters.

“You can’t help but feel the magic of this lake and so many mariners have died on this lake that people don’t know about, but it’s beautiful and serene and the same time and somber too,” said Morgan.

The night of the ceremony is the only night of the year where visitors to Split Rock are allowed up in the tower while it is lit.