Shipwreck Society makes 49th Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Ceremony closed to the public
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society’s Annual Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Ceremony is always a solemn event, but again this year, it will be closed to the public. Due to the museum’s small size and inability to accommodate the many people who typically want to attend, the decision has been made to keep the event private. This memorial service has always been primarily intended for the families of those lost on the Fitzgerald when it sank 17 miles northwest of Whitefish Point on November 10th, 1975.
However, recognizing the wider community’s interest, the Shipwreck Society has upgraded its technology to ensure the memorial can still be experienced by many. The event will be live-streamed, with a link to follow, allowing the public to participate virtually while maintaining an intimate atmosphere for the families attending in person. This combination of preserving the event’s personal nature while expanding access is a thoughtful way to honor the memory of those lost and to include those who wish to pay their respects from afar.
This event will be live-streaming from Whitefish Point starting before 7pm on Sunday, 11-10-2024 and ending after 8pm. Please stay tuned for more information.
There will also be an opportunity to see this event at the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven, MI where they will host a simulcast of the broadcast of our stream in real time. If you’re in that area call the MMM at (269) 637-8078 for more information. There has been a flood of questions about the 50th anniversary Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Ceremony. We do have plans for a public event that we will release in 2025. Any questions about the 49th event please reach out to:
Media Contact, Corey Adkins: Content/Communications Director GLSHS
corey@shipwreckmuseum.com
EPA Awards More Than $200 million to Great Lakes Ports
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded nearly $3 billion to 55 recipient projects in 27 states and U.S. territories. These grants are from the agency’s Clean Ports Program, which was enacted by Congress in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
The agency received more than $8 billion in project applications. These awards go to support zero emission equipment and infrastructure. Additionally, the program supports climate and air quality planning activities at ports. Nationwide, the awards support the purchase of more than 1500 “units” of cargo handling equipment, 1,000 drayage trucks, 10 locomotives, 20 vessels as well as charging infrastructure.
Projects funded at Great Lakes ports – or related to Great Lakes ports – are listed below:
Climate and Air Quality Planning Grants
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency – $2.99 million for Illinois waterway ports emission inventories, set emission reduction goals, strategies for resiliency, community development and workforce development.
Detroit Wayne County Port Authority – $3 million for the Port of Detroit to develop an emission reduction roadmap, community engagement plan, and workforce engagement.
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy – $3 million for Michigan ports to create a competitive grant program for Michigan ports to fund emission reduction activities
Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Grants
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency – $92.1 million for the Port of Chicago to purchase of electric drayage trucks, cargo handling equipment, vessels and locomotives, charging infrastructure and shore power
Detroit Wayne County Port Authority – $21.9 million for the Port of Detroit to purchase of cargo handling equipment, vessels and railcar movers, charging infrastructure
Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority – $94.3 million for the Port of Cleveland for electric cargo handling equipment and vessels, charging infrastructure, shore power
Great Lakes regional funding total = $217.29 million.
American Great Lakes Ports Association
Gales of November 8-9
A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum
See flyer below.
National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”
Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.
Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.
Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.
Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.
The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.
You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite
