Wisconsin's most famous shipwreck, the Edmund Fitzgerald

Making Wisconsin: A History of the Badger State

Wisconsin's most famous shipwreck, the Edmund Fitzgerald

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Published on Feb 2, 2022, 5:18:18 PM
Total time: 00:28:19

Episode Description

It's a maritime tragedy that's cemented in time. With the help of folk singer Gordon Lightfoot, you've likely heard the woes of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The ship met its ill-fated end nearly 50 years ago in Lake Superior and remains one of the most mysterious and controversial wrecks to date.

Many details remain unknown about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, leaving experts to a range of hypotheses for that night. Of course, the harsh Nov. 10 storm was a large contributing factor, but it's hard to pinpoint exactly what caused the ship to drag to the depths of Lake Superior.

After recounting that stormy night and the theories surrounding the sinking, we site down with University of Wisconsin professor Steve Ackerman, an expert in atmospheric and oceanic sciences.

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In this WMTV 15 News podcast, we take a look back at some of the events that helped shape the Wisconsin we know and love.