Archaeologists Investigate The Sunken Wreckage of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Renowned divers Mike and Warren Fletcher investigate the mysteries of Lake Superior’s shipwrecks, particularly the famed Edmund Fitzgerald, often called the "Titanic of the Great Lakes." Exploring frigid waters and wreck sites, they piece together the tragic tales of lost freighters. With new sonar technology, the Fletchers uncover startling evidence suggesting the Edmund Fitzgerald may have split on the surface, challenging long-held beliefs.

Welcome to Unearthed History -- the home for all things archaeological! From ancient Roman ruins to buried medieval mysteries, we'll be bringing you award-winning documentaries that explore the remnants of long lost civilizations.

Subscribe so you don't miss out.

#UnearthedHistory #Archaeology #Documentary

[mjames]

The only survivor of the Daniel J Morrell, Dennis Hale, passed away from cancer in 2015. At least he got to make this trip to the wreck site of his ship before then.

[stop]

I live up in the woods in the western part of the UP, I’m just a few minutes away from Lake Superior. We honor the day that the Fitz went down every year on November 10th. They play Gordon Lightfoot’s song on loop all day on most radio stations in the UP, especially in the remote places like I live. I get very few local radio stations because I live so deep in the woods.
They have memorial services and everything up here on the anniversary of its sinking. It is a VERY small and isolated community here and it’s one of the few times that us locals get together and eat and everything. We all know very well just how dangerous the lake can get in the winter here or in big storms. It can be scary just standing on the shore and seeing a lake with 5 foot waves or more!
Most importantly though, the men that served on the Fitz are still honored to this day for us people living here.

[timothyredman]

I was on a USCG cutter on Superior for almost two years. In rough weather you could clearly see the pilot house listing one direction and the stack the other simultaneously. The stress that puts on the hull HAS to be insane!!

[missysbloglife]

My dad sailed on the Fitz one year before she sank. He knew all of the crew members very well.

[kft]

I was a student at Washington Junior High school in Duluth MN and I remember seeing a ship leave watching from the school that day after going under the Lift Bridge. I watched in awe seeing the huge waves that were hitting the shore and it gave me the chills watching that ship leave. A 2 ton propeller that was on the shore as a display moved 10 feet after being beaten by those high waves, I have seen a lot of storms but I have never seen waves as high as those that day in Duluth before or since then.

[briantremblay]

I grew up on Lake Superior, Michipicoten Harbor reserve, vary close to where she went down. I have seen 30-40 foot waves crashing onto shore. Everyone knows to stay off the lake from October 14 on. As far as I am concerned this is the best investigative doc I have ever seen, and I have seen just about everyone!!!

[jeffkraus]

Very well made and informative. Really one of the most important factors in her sinking was the greedy owners and shareholders who insisted the Fitz should be overloaded and placed into jeopardy. Shame on all of them and they will be held accountable in the great court of the almighty. GRTS...

[CissyBrazil]

Gordon Lightfoot wrote and sang this song in 1976, just one year after the disaster. Beautifully written song and beautifully sung. We lost Gordon Lightfoot not too long ago. RIP

[Racefiend]

This was one of the best documentaries and research videos I've watched. Super informative and I feel more accurately explains what actually happened. For decades we were to believe the crew had messed up with the hatches and it seems otherwise now. Thank you for this

[tracymetherell]

I can’t help but hear Gordon Lightfoot’s song in my head as I watch this.

[timnye]

I was born on November 10th, 1960 and every year this somber reminder of the Witch of November comes back to haunt me. This was a really well put together program and I enjoyed it tremendously. Thank you for your work on this.

[christophertibbs]

I believe the same thing that happened to the Edmund Fitzgerald also happened to the El Faro in 2015 in the Caribbean Sea.
If it wasn't for Gordon Lightfoot the wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald would have been long forgotten about. Thank God for Gordon Lightfoot.

[dgordon]

I recall seeing this documentary and frankly it scared the heck out of me. Huge respect to the father and son duo for their work, and insane respect to those who go to sea.

[audreyjohnson]

The sailors on the Great Lakes have a name for those rogue waves. They are called the Three Sisters because they usually have a series of rogue waves moving close together. The Anderson reported being hit by two of those waves from the stern that were travelling in the direction of the Fitz. I saw pictures of the Anderson after she reached Whitefish Bay during the storm and she had a lot of damage on the stern. Also, this report said that the Anderson followed the Fitz. The Anderson was actively trying to assist the Fitz by using her radar to guide the Fitz and staying in contact, not just following. She also reported the Fitz missing and led the search for survivors, going back into the storm along with another laker the William Clay Ford.

[billclisham]

If you haven't live in and around the Great Lakes, it's hard to understand just how alive the lake truly are. I will never forget the feeling of watching the news reports of when the Fitz sank. It went from search and recovery to all hands lost, it was a very dark time to say the least. They can guess all they want but there will never be an exact cause of the sinking known. It's a very dry read, but the NTSB/Coast Guard reports of the wreck is fascinating to read.

[ferrisulf]

As a Michigander, I very much appreciate all the effort that went into this. I wasn't born yet when the Fitzgerald sank, but it didn't sound right that the crew would be negligent with something so vital to their own survival and safety, especially when they saw a storm was brewing.

[howlinhog]

I was 14 in 75. My Grandparents had been making their yearly trip to the U.P. since the 40's, this was my first as a legal solo hunter in Michigan. My Grandparents had some very close friends, the Simmons family. They had a relative on the Fitzgerald. I had never seen my Grandmother so worried and distraught before or since on the evening of the tenth. She stayed up all night with the radio and TV on and visitors going back and forth. It was a very emotional time when it was reported that the Edmund had gone down with no survivors. My Dad and I went into the woods alone that year, my Grandparents were too busy with friends to go out.

[MDMAC]

I've lived along the Ohio river my whole life. Its amazing how calm and beautiful water can be. Yet every so often it does something to remind you that you're not in charge. No matter how much you think it.

[edwardlacika]

Thank you for this incredible piece of history presented in an extremely respectful and considerate manner.

[russk]

I grew up on the St Claire River. I remember seeing the news reports about the Fitzgerald being lost. I have many friends who sailed the merchant marines. None of us believe that crew errors caused the Fitzgerald to sink. I believe that design errors, relaxed cargo rules, and the perfect storm sent the ship to the bottom of Lake Superior. The fact that the shipping company paid the families to not sue says they knew they held some of the blame for the sinking. Blaming the crew who could not defend themselves made certain that they got the insurance payout.