On November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald, a 729-foot freighter, sank in Lake Superior during a severe storm, taking the lives of all 29 crew members aboard. The ship had been one of the largest and most advanced freighters on the Great Lakes. For five decades, the exact cause of the sinking has been a subject of investigation and debate, with several competing theories proposed.
A recent exploration of the wreck site using an underwater drone produced footage of the ship’s bridge, an area previously too hazardous to enter. The drone, equipped with cameras and an AI navigation system, was able to navigate the collapsed structure. The vast majority of the interior was found in the expected condition for a wreck that has rested deep underwater for 50 years, covered in silt and corrosion.
However, the footage revealed one unusual detail: a brass engine order telegraph, used by the captain to send speed commands to the engine room, appeared to be clean and polished. It was not buried in sediment, nor did it show the rust and bacterial growth that covered the rest of the wreck. The drone’s sensors confirmed the object was brass and in this unexpected condition. Researchers have not offered a scientific explanation for this specific detail.
The wreck is a protected gravesite, meaning no recovery or physical study of the object is permitted. The discovery has raised new questions, but it has not resolved the longstanding uncertainty surrounding the ship’s fate. The leading theories remain the subject of discussion.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was launched in 1958 and was the largest freighter ever built on the Great Lakes at that time. It was known for its amenities, including air conditioning and a guest lounge, and set several cargo records over its 17 years of service. The ship’s launch was not without incident; the christening bottle broke on the third attempt, and a wave caused by the launch reportedly contributed to a spectator’s death.
Captain Ernest McSorley, a 44-year veteran, commanded the vessel on what was expected to be one of his final voyages before retirement. On November 9, 1975, the Fitzgerald departed Superior, Wisconsin, with a load of taconite ore, accompanied by another freighter, the Arthur M. Anderson, which was traveling about 10 to 15 miles behind.
The weather forecast called for deteriorating conditions. By November 10, the storm had intensified, with winds reaching hurricane force and waves building to 25 feet. Some reports that night described larger rogue waves, sometimes called the “three sisters.”
That afternoon, Captain McSorley radioed the Anderson to report damage, including a downed fence rail, lost vents, and a list, indicating the ship was taking on water. He also reported his radar was not working. The Fitzgerald was roughly 17 miles from the safety of Whitefish Bay.
The two ships remained in contact over the next several hours. The captain of the Anderson reported watching the Fitzgerald withstand two large waves before it disappeared from radar at approximately 7:10 p.m., shortly after McSorley radioed that the ship was “holding our own.” No distress signal was sent. A search found only lifeboats and debris. The wreck was located four days later in two pieces, in about 530 feet of water.
The sinking prompted a long investigation and a number of theories. The U.S. Coast Guard’s 1977 report suggested that improperly secured hatch covers allowed water to flood the cargo hold. The crew’s families disputed this conclusion. Another theory proposed that the ship struck a shoal known as Six Fathom Shoal, damaging its hull and causing a slow leak. A third theory points to a possible structural failure, noting the ship had been lengthened in 1969 and was allowed to ride deeper in the water. A fourth explanation suggests a large rogue wave may have pushed the bow underwater, causing the ship to dive to the bottom.
None of these theories are confirmed, and all have limitations. The recent drone footage of the clean brass telegraph does not align with any of the existing explanations, but it also does not provide a new answer. As the wreck is protected, there is no plan to retrieve the object. The fate of the Edmund Fitzgerald and its crew remains an open question, with the drone observation adding an unexplained detail to a 50-year-old case.
