National Museum of the Great Lakes Announces 50th Anniversary Weekend Honoring the Edmund Fitzgerald
Published: Thursday, October 30, 2025 10:00 am
This November marks 50 years since the loss of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, one of the most famous ships ever to sail the Great Lakes. The National Museum of the Great Lakes will honor the ship and the memory of its 29 crew members with a weekend of events, special performances, and community tributes from November 7th through November 10th.
On November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank during a fierce Lake Superior storm, taking the lives of all aboard. Its mysterious loss remains one of the Great Lakes’ most captivating stories. Often called the “Toledo Express” because, in its early years, Toledo and Detroit were the only ports capable of accommodating the vessel. In 1964, the only route the Fitzgerald ran was from Silver Bay, MN, to Toledo, which shows how the ship’s story is deeply tied to the city’s maritime heritage.
“Fifty years later, we are proud to bring together local organizations, performers, and the public to remember the ship, its crew, and their families,” said Kate Fineske, National Museum of the Great Lakes Executive Director. “This weekend is both a commemoration and a chance to share the Fitzgerald’s enduring legacy with new generations.”
The Clement O. Miniger Memorial Foundation generously supports the weekend tribute, with additional sponsorship and collaboration from The Valentine Theater, The Lathrop Company, The Collaborative, Quenched & Tempered Brewery, and more. Visitors can also enjoy exclusive rates at the Renaissance Toledo Downtown and Hilton Garden Inn Toledo Downtown for the weekend.
Weekend Highlights
Guided Fitzgerald Tours Aboard the Schoonmaker
Friday, November 7 – Monday, November 10 | Museum Hours
Step aboard the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship for guided tours co-presented by The Lathrop Company and The Collaborative. Visitors will explore the life of freighter crews while imagining the challenges faced by those aboard the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Friday, November 8 | 3–9 p.m. – Fitzgerald Beer Launch & Honorary Dinner at Quenched & Tempered Brewery
Kick off the weekend with the debut of “The Toledo Express” copper ale, brewed in honor of the Fitzgerald. The brewery will serve the ship’s “last meal”—chicken paprikash—alongside live music from 7–9 p.m.
Sunday, November 9 | 7 p.m. – Meredith Moon Live at the Valentine Theater
Enjoy a special tribute concert by Meredith Moon, performing in the theater where her father, Gordon Lightfoot, once sang the ballad that immortalized the Fitzgerald’s story.
Monday, November 10 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. – Documentary Screening
The museum will screen A Good Ship and Crew Well Seasoned: The Fitzgerald and Her Legacy every hour in the Great Lakes Community Education Center.
Monday, November 10 | 6 p.m. – Guest Panel & Anniversary Ceremony
Join us for a moving evening of reflection, featuring three individuals whose personal and professional connections to the Edmund Fitzgerald bring unique perspectives to this milestone anniversary.
Tickets, lodging offers, and full event details are available at nmgl.org/fitzgerald50.
tags: 50th Anniversary, Edmund Fitzgerald, Great Lakes History, Maritime Museum, Memorial Events, National Museum of the Great Lakes, Shipwrecks, Toledo Ohio
