Museum to Host Exclusive Small Group Tours in Honor of S.S. EDMUND FITZGERALD Tragic Anniversary

October 20, 2020 (Toledo, Ohio) –  In recognition of the 45th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, the National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using our lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the theories about the vessel’s sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost.

“While traveling Lake Superior on November 10, 1975, the ‘Mighty Fitz’ and it’s entire crew sank during a storm,” recalls Chris Gillcrist, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “Many from that crew were from the Toledo area. We believe this tour provides a more experiential and hands-on way to learn about a tragedy that deeply impacted the lives of so many near and far.”

Along with the tour, each group will receive a copy of the documentary A Good Ship and Crew Well Seasoned: The Fitzgerald and Her Legacy. This hour-long DVD explores the less documented and overlooked history of the Fitzgerald and her crew while at the same time reflecting on the impact of their loss on family, friends, and colleagues in the maritime community.

Although closed for the season beginning November 1, The Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship will open one last time this season on November 7 – 8 exclusively to tour guests for this unique experience. Tickets are limited to 26 groups of 4 individuals over a 2-day period (to allow for social distancing throughout the museum ship). Pre-sale reservations were made available to museum members on Wednesday, October 21. General public access to tickets begins today, Friday, October 23. Masks will be required during the entire tour. For additional information and to reserve your tour, click here.