History · Duluth News Tribune

Edmund Fitzgerald: 50 Years Below

by Duluth News Tribune

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.

Latest episodes

Showing 6 · updated from the feed

5. The Legend Lives On

How did the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald become more famous than any shipwreck besides the Titanic? When Gordon Lightfoot read a Newsweek article about how Lake Superio

Nov 10 2025
36 min

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 realiz

Nov 3 2025
38 min

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 l

Oct 27 2025
39 min

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 o

Oct 20 2025
37 min

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, explainin

Oct 13 2025
34 min

The Story Still Echoes

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 yea

Aug 15 2025
3 min

Chart positions

Where Edmund Fitzgerald: 50 Years Below ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Nov 12, 2026).

#102 ▲ 17 History US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

No pun intended, I love a deep dive into a topic with a short commitment. I’ve read several books about the Edmund Fitzgerald but I learned some new things. Well done reporting.

LittleSac · Jan 2026

So well produced and narrated. Respectful of the families all the way through. It answered many questions I’ve had since 1975. I wish it was 5 episodes longer. Well done.

CheeseMuzik · Jan 2026

This podcast was perfect. It was focused and informative, not overdone at all, and you never once forgot the 29 souls who lost it all. I especially appreciated the point that, sometimes, we are not given to know why something happened.

NewYorkTom73 · Dec 2025

I really enjoyed how the story was told, very engaging. I also was struck by the similarities between the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the sinking of the Marine Electric in 1983, and the lives of both crafts prior to their demise. Even a Gordon Lightfoot element with the Marine Electric as well. Bravo!

Lkh7286 · Dec 2025

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.