Boatnerd News

Boatnerd News – September 29, 2025

September 29, 2025

AHOY & FAREWELL III Wins
Historical Society of Michigan Award

     The book Ahoy & Farewell III, released last fall to mark the Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s 80th anniversary, has won an award for Outstanding Michigan History Publication from the Historical Society of Michigan.
   MHSD president and book co-author Roger LeLievre accepted the award recently at the HSOM’s annual conference. The book’s other two authors are Viktor Kaczkowski and William T. Moran.
   Ahoy & Farewell III, the third installment of the MHSD’s long-running series marks the MHSD’s 80th anniversary. The book documents the vessels we welcomed, and those to which we had to bid farewell during the last 30 years. The nearly 300-page, high-quality volume features a wealth of color photos, with multiple images of every vessel referenced, plus a complete history of every vessel listed.
The book may be ordered at MHSD.org
To order by mail,
US orders $48 (includes postage)
Canadian orders $63 (includes postage) Must write US Funds after the numerical dollar amount.
Send payment to
Vinny Cioletti – MHSD
10 Port Ave.
Monrore, MI 48161

Marine Historical Society of Detroit 

Door County Maritime Museum Presentation on 50th Anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

On Oct. 2, 2025, the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. will host a hybrid presentation entitled “The 50th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Chris Winters, a member of the board of directors of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society.
Winter will discuss the Nov. 10, 1975 loss of the 729-foot-long bulk freighter and its crew of 29. The ship was carrying a cargo of taconite from Superior, Wis. to Detroit, Mich. when it encountered a fierce storm on Lake Superior, with winds of 60 mph or more.
The sinking made national headlines and was immortalized a year later by Canadian performer Gordon Lightfoot’s ballad “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” The upcoming event is part of the museum’s Door County Medical Center 2025-26 Maritime Speaker Series.
The program begins at 7:00 p.m. CT. Admission is free, although a donation of a nonperishable food items is requested. The program will also be live streamed on the Zoom platform. To register or more details, click on the link below.

Annual Maritime Career Day Seeking Partners

TOLEDO, OHIO – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is calling on maritime and Great Lakes–related industries to take part in its second annual Maritime Career Day on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Designed to connect students and the public with career opportunities across the region, the event provides a unique platform for companies, higher education institutions, and tradespeople to connect with future talent and gain valuable exposure.
   Last year’s inaugural event drew over 300 students and more than 30 career partners, including leaders from various fields such as shipping, environmental science, engineering, the military, and culinary arts. This year, in addition to students, the museum is expanding its reach by inviting the broader community to take part, offering career partners an even wider audience to share their work and opportunities.
   “Maritime Career Day is about building connections and inspiring the next generation of Great Lakes professionals,” said Sara Smith, Director of Institutional Advancement with the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “With the addition of a community session this year, partners will not only meet eager students but also connect with adults exploring career opportunities or seeking new paths within our region’s vital industries.”

Event Details:

  • Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
  • Student Session: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Grades 7–12)
  • Community Session: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Open to the public)
  • Location: National Museum of the Great Lakes, 1701 Front St., Toledo, OH

Career partners will host booths inside the museum and aboard its Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, offering attendees a chance to interact directly with professionals from diverse fields.

Sponsors of the 2025 Maritime Career Day include:

  • Presenting Sponsor: World Group Foundation – the philanthropic arm of The World Group, dedicated to creating meaningful, lasting change in the communities where its people live and work.
  • Community Sponsors: The Andersons and International Ship Masters Association Toledo Lodge 9

Organizations interested in participating as a career partner are encouraged to contact Sara Smith at sara.smith@nmgl.org. Space is limited, and early registration is recommended.For more information, visit nmgl.org/careerday.

 

Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

By: Max White

   (WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
   According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
   Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
   Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
   During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
   Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
Click to see Full story and videos:  https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-historical-society-hosts-several-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-edmund-fitzgerald-sinking?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawMsZ1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7V_IMl1KDLaV2aLwAgHT9l68-iG1GT4NPz0DBD_7FrGRv3vNimb9LJi74Q_aem_jJq4jLDiDZj4tCbMK3qspw