Making Wisconsin: Wisconsin’s most famous shipwreck, the Edmund Fitzgerald

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - 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.

Click here to download the NBC15 News app or our NBC15 First Alert weather app.