Edmund Fitzgerald: 50 Years Below

On November 10, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald disappeared beneath the waves of Lake Superior without so much as a distress call. What, exactly, happened out there 50 years ago? This five-episode limited podcast tells the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald from its launch to its loss — and explores the legacy of what has become one of the world's most famous shipwrecks. You'll hear from a former coast guardsman who was on a cutter participating in the search for the Fitzgerald; from a diver who saw the wreck firsthand; from the news anchor who broke the tragic story; and from over a dozen other experts. This podcast will take you beyond the song, and into the depths. Edmund Fitzgerald: 50 Years Under is produced by the Duluth News Tribune, a newspaper that covered the Fitz during its heyday and has remained close to this story ever since. Find features that go into even greater detail, with photos and video, at duluthnewstribune.com.

Last refreshed: December 1st, 2025 at 11:12 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

5. The Legend Lives On

This episode explores why the Edmund Fitzgerald remains one of the most famous shipwrecks, largely due to Gordon Lightfoot's iconic song. It delves into the song's creation, its unexpected rise to popularity, and the mixed feelings of the crew's families regarding its lyrical content. The episode also highlights various museums and memorials that preserve the ship's memory, details a historic scuba dive to the wreck, and discusses advancements in Great Lakes maritime safety since the tragedy.

Nov 10, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 5

4. The Church Bell Chimed

Duluth TV anchor Dennis Anderson was preparing for the 10:00 news when he received a call asking about a 729-foot freighter that had gone down in Lake Superior. He realized he was going to have to cut into "Monday Night Football" and tell viewers that 29 men had died. Meanwhile, John Crowley was at a Duluth bar with some Coast Guard shipmates when they were all called back to their cutter — immediately. Hear Anderson's and Crowley's accounts of that terrible night, and learn why the official inv...

Nov 03, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 4

3. 'We Are Holding Our Own'

The Edmund Fitzgerald made no distress call. During a Lake Superior storm on the night of November 10, 1975, the ship suddenly disappeared from radar, with no survivors left to tell the tale. What exactly happened out there? You'll learn what we know — and what we never will — about the circumstances surrounding the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Follow the vessel's last run across the lake, into the worst storm its experienced captain had ever seen. Hear from experts who debate what might have...

Oct 27, 2025•40 min•Season 1Ep. 3

2. The Gales of November

Could anything reasonably have been done to avert the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald? What did Captain McSorley know about the weather he was facing when he steamed out of Superior on November 9, 1975? Listen to what the ship's last inspection revealed about the state of its hatches, and what we now know about why the next day's storm turned deadly. You'll also learn more about the Fitzgerald's crew, including the captain — who planned to retire after the season's final ore run. Edmund Fitzgeral...

Oct 20, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 2

1. The Pride of the American Side

Why was the Edmund Fitzgerald a legend long before its loss? What was it like to ride on the Great Lakes' largest vessel? We put the ship in historical context, explaining why ships like the Fitzgerald are crucial to American industry. You'll hear the story of the Fitzgerald family, learn about the ship's troubled launch, and hear how regulation changes may have contributed to the vessel's ultimate fate. Stories from the Edmund Fitzgerald's prime include a passenger's glowing review — and the ti...

Oct 13, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 1

The Story Still Echoes

Aug 15, 2025•4 min

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