Edwin H Gott stops at Escanaba for possible repairs
[Photos below in gallery]
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.
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Great Lakes Icebreaker Gap Threatens American Maritime Dominance
Posted to Politics September 08, 2025 by James Weakley
When Americans think of our coastlines, most picture the beaches of the Atlantic, the Pacific, or the Gulf. But the Great Lakes are America’s fourth coast — a 2,300-mile expanse reaching deep into the nation’s industrial heartland. Each year, this system moves more than 135 million tons of cargo worth over $26 billion, carrying the raw materials that power American industry: iron ore for steel, coal for energy, limestone for construction, and grain that feeds the world.
America’s “comeback” is impossible without the Great Lakes, because of these critical cargoes. The issue, though, is that every winter, this powerhouse faces a perennial challenge: ice.
Despite its coastline, the U.S. Coast Guard operates just one heavy domestic icebreaker on the Great Lakes, the 240-foot Mackinaw. It is a capable ship, what the industry and Coast Guard would call a “heavy” icebreaking vessel, but one vessel cannot be in two places at once. When ice jams up two channels simultaneously, tough choices must be made about which channel to clear and which to leave blocked.
Medium-sized icebreaking cutters can help, but even two or three working together cannot break through the thickest ice. America cannot rely solely on privately operated ice-breaking tugboats, which are even smaller and less effective outside of light port maintenance.
The consequences are costly. In some winters, ice blockages have caused flooding across the Detroit suburbs. These are blockages that a heavy ice breaker could have easily solved. Zooming out to larger impacts across the region and country: ships get stuck, factories delay production, and energy deliveries face disruption. Even a few days of lost cargo can ripple outward: idling assembly lines, inflating costs, and putting jobs at risk.
This is not just a Great Lakes issue. Other major manufacturing states depend on the cargo transported on the Great Lakes. In Texas, 865,000 jobs depend on the steel supply chain based around the Great Lakes. In California, 691,000 jobs rely on Midwestern coal and iron. The list goes on.
Every one of those jobs depends on reliable winter navigation. Without it, we risk supply chain bottlenecks in the very sectors that make America strong: steel, autos, energy, and construction.
Building a second Great Lakes icebreaker represents a national economic investment to keep these supply chains running and reduce the need to import foreign steel, foreign grain, foreign limestone, and foreign coal.
The U.S. House of Representatives has recognized this need; however, as part of the negotiation process for President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, lawmakers cut the funding for this second icebreaker. Lawmakers from the region saw the danger clearly. In a June letter to Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), nine Republican members of Congress urged that funding for a new heavy Great Lakes icebreaker be restored in the Senate reconciliation bill.
They pointed out that while the package included every other type of Coast Guard icebreaker, it left out the Great Lakes vessel. But that is not the end-all-be-all.
At a time when agreement across the aisle is rare, there is a broad bipartisan consensus on the need for a stronger maritime sector. President Trump issued an executive order to “restore American maritime dominance,” charting a course to strengthen U.S. shipyards and expand our workforce of 650,000 men and women. Before him, President Joe Biden directed an investigation into Chinese shipbuilding, which continues under this administration, underscoring the risks of falling behind global competitors. And now, Democrats and Republicans together have reintroduced the SHIPS for America Act to accelerate domestic vessel construction and modernization.
A new Great Lakes icebreaker embodies this maritime moment perfectly. American workers would build it in a U.S. shipyard using American steel, and it would serve a uniquely American mission: keeping our inland seas open so our economy can thrive.
Congress now has the opportunity to act. Looking at the legislative calendar for the rest of the year, multiple vehicles exist for America to take itself seriously and not let ice stop the nation from moving. The Coast Guard Authorization bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, and the potential second reconciliation bill suggested by Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger could all provide Americans the relief they need.
By investing in this vessel, lawmakers can deliver a win for the heartland, for American industry, and for the nation as a whole. We will measure the return not just in steel and grain shipments, but in jobs, paychecks, and economic security for millions of Americans. Our great nation and our Great Lakes need another great heavy icebreaker!
Seaway Monthly Traffic Results for August 2025
[See chart in gallery below]
MHSD Detroit River Cruise Tickets Will Be Available at the Dock
DETROIT, MI – Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the Diamond Jack’s River Tours passenger vessel DIAMOND BELLE (captained by the MHSD’s very own Mike Nicholls and with MHSD member Ken Borg as narrator) for our annual three-hour cruise, 1-4 P.M. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River. The weather forecast calls for sunshine and balmy temperatures.
We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available
on the boat (coolers not allowed on board), which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit. There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is both street and garage parking nearby.
Tickets at the dock are $30 (cash or check only. Please arrive by 12:45 as the boat will sail promptly at 1 p.m.
MHSD
A new docuseries about Lake Erie’s historic lighthouses is set to reach viewers this September.
WBGU-PBS is premiering “Illuminating the Great Lakes: Lighthouses of Lake Erie,” a three-part series that explores the history and legacy of eight Ohio lighthouses and the people working to preserve them. The series will include the tale of a lighthouse that mysteriously disappeared and a ghost cat said to wander through a former caretaker’s cottage-turned-museum, according to a community announcement.
The series is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. Thursdays starting Sept. 11 and at 3:30 p.m. Saturdays beginning Sept. 13.
Viewers have several options to watch the series: on-air, via livestream at wbgu.org/live, or on demand through the PBS app and YouTube.
The docuseries is divided into three episodes: “Beacons of the Past” (Sept. 11 and 13), “Preserving the Light” (Sept. 18 and 20) and “Shining Forward” (Sept. 25 and 27). In addition, WBGU-PBS is hosting an interactive online scavenger hunt through the Goosechase app. Participants can complete challenges and quizzes to earn points, and those who finish the hunt receive a “Keep the Light On” sticker. The scavenger hunt is available until Sept. 7, 2026.
For more details, visit https://www.wbgu.org/lighthouses/
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.
Marine Historical Society of Detroit
Now Accepting New Members, Renewals
DETROIT, MI – You don’t have to live in the Motor City to join the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. Its focus includes all the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway as well as the ships and sailors keeping the economies of two countries moving.
The 81-year-old non-profit group is now accepting new memberships and membership renewals.
“The MHSD has plenty to offer anyone interested in and concerned with the history of the Great Lakes and its vibrant maritime heritage,” says long-time group President Roger LeLievre. “We have members across the U.S. and Canada and even overseas.”
Membership includes the monthly publication The Detroit Marine Historian, which offers a variety of articles exploring Great Lakes shipping past and present. It also includes an annual, full-color calendar featuring superb, often rare, photos of Great Lakes ships of the past.
Last year the group published the 300-page, hardcover book Ahoy & Farewell III, documenting the vessels built and those that left the lakes during the past 30 years. The book recently won an award for excellence from the Historical Society of Michigan.
In keeping with society’s goal of preserving historical images, the MHSD’s image portal, featuring photos and details of many historic vessels, is now online at www.marinehistorydetroit.historyit.com
The Society has named an annual Historian of the Year since 1969. The award is voted on by past winners and honors those who have contributed significantly to the research, presentation or publication of Great Lakes ships and the shipping history.
Membership is $40 (U.S. and Canada). Join online at www.mhsd.org. To join or renew by mail, please print out the form in the gallery below.
MHSD
See “Captain Bob” September 11th
See “Captain Bob” former Captain of the Paul R Tregurtha, in Cheboygan next month for his speaking engagement, GREAT NEWS!! Due to his first show SELLING OUT in record time, they are adding a SECOND SHOW!! Same day but at 5:30pm so if you’re interested, head to the website shown at the bottom of the image (Open it up to see it full size) and grab tickets!! They are only $10 each!! Hurry before this show sells out as well!!
See Photo Gallery below
2025 Luck of the Lakes Raffle Includes Ship Trips
Your raffle ticket purchase supports the Great Lakes Historical Society and its National Museum of the Great Lakes whose mission is to preserve, share, and celebrate the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story.
Details here:
https://nmgl.org/2025lolraffle/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMDBTFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFZUGV4UFMxNFFGYUpPbTZ2AR5OikAHiWMuo30CZrAqM9nuK93_xmmqYBsoAerabXJ3sBlZWNxpz7mZwoLuFw_aem_1pxrUONQfReTGS4dlnAgzg
