Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Beacon Lighting

This annual event commemorates the sinking of the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald and the total loss of the 29 crew members aboard on November 10, 1975. It is also a time to reflect on the memory of all lives lost on the Great Lakes. The lighthouse, fog signal building, and visitor center will be open for visitors. Guides will welcome visitors and provide historic site and shipwreck information. Throughout the day, visitors can watch a film about Edmund Fitzgerald in the visitor center, or join a guided tour exploring the history of Fitzgerald’s final voyage. At 4:15 pm, the lighthouse will temporarily close while the names of the crew are read to the tolling of a ship’s bell, with a rendition of the Naval Hymn. Following the ceremony, the beacon will be lit, and the tower will be open again to tour until close at 6 pm. Be sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp as the grounds and trails are unlit. The weather is unpredictable, please dress accordingly. The event will be streamed on Split Rock Lighthouse’s Facebook Page and the Minnesota Historical Society’s YouTube channel.