Listening to America #1687 The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, 50 Years Later
Jan 19, 2026
Join author and journalist John U. Bacon as he shares insights from his book, The Gales of November, examining the chilling 1975 sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Bacon unearths new interviews and theories about crew decisions, the storm's intensity, and structural integrity. He discusses Gordon Lightfoot's iconic song and its impact on public memory. With discussions on safety reforms and cultural significance, Bacon reveals how this maritime tragedy continues to haunt and educate.
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Song Turned A Wreck Into Myth
- Gordon Lightfoot's song made the Edmund Fitzgerald famous nationwide and likely ensured the story's lasting place in memory.
- Without that cultural echo, the wreck would be one among thousands on the Great Lakes and largely forgotten.
A Turning Point For Great Lakes Safety
- The Edmund Fitzgerald is the last major commercial shipwreck on the Great Lakes, marking a sharp safety inflection point.
- Safety changes since 1975 have reduced commercial shipwrecks to near zero on the lakes.
Lightfoot's Midnight Inspiration
- Gordon Lightfoot was composing in his attic the night of the storm and felt it must be 'hell on Superior,' which inspired the song.
- News reports and poetic lines from early stories fed directly into Lightfoot's lyrics.
