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EDMUND FITZGERALD

Great lake freighter, a premium model

When launched on June 8, 1958, SS Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ship on North America's Great Lakes. Nicknamed the "Mighty Fitz", "Fitz", or "Big Fitz". The 730-foot freighter set a number of cargo records during her lifetime. This extremely handsome ship was well known to both casual and serious ship watchers.

For seventeen years the Fitzgerald carried taconite iron ore from mines near Duluth, Minnesota, to iron works in Detroit, Toledo, and other Great Lakes ports. As a "workhorse" she set seasonal haul records six times, often beating her own previous record.  Her size, record-breaking performance, and "DJ captain" endeared the Fitzgerald to boat watchers. Captain Peter Pulcer was known for piping music day or night over the ship's intercom system while passing through the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers (between Lakes Huron and Erie), and entertaining spectators at the Soo Locks (between Lakes Superior and Huron) with a running commentary about the Fitzgerald.

On the afternoon of November 9, 1975, carrying a full cargo of ore pellets, the Edmund Fitzgerald embarked on her voyage from Superior, Wisconsin. En route to a steel mill near Detroit, Michigan, she joined a second freighter, the SS Arthur M. Anderson. 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 high. Shortly after 7:10 p.m. the Fitzgerald suddenly sank in Canadian waters 530 feet deep.  Although the Fitzgerald had reported being in difficulty earlier, no distress signals were sent before she sank. Her crew of 29 all perished, and no bodies were recovered.

The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is the most famous disaster in the history of Great Lakes shipping, and is the subject of Gordon Lightfoot's hit song, "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald." 

The wreck & sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald has been a subject fascinating many people. How a storm on Lake Superior could take down a ship that had a length of 2 city blocks with such speed that no distress call could be made? The precise cause of her sinking remains a mystery.

Edmund Fitzgerald remained the largest freighter on the great lakes for 17 years, until sunk.

This primarily wood model of the Edmund Fitzgerald is 46" long x 9.5 tall x 5" wide. $4,370 Shipping and insurance in the contiguous US included. Canada: $300, other places: $450 flat rate. We require only a small deposit to start the process $900  The remaining balance won't be due until the model is completed, in about 6 months.

For 32" and 26.5" models, please click here: smaller Edmund Fitzgerald models  
 

"Returned from vacation to find my model of the Fitzgerald.  I opened the box and examined the model yesterday...The ship looks wonderful...Captain Mark O."