Whitefish Point is a cape in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. All vessels entering or leaving Lake Superior must pass by here. With at least 240 shipwrecks in the region, the area is known as Lake Superior’s Shipwreck Coast or the Graveyard of the Great Lakes. Visitors enjoy its Lake Superior shoreline, the Whitefish Point Lighthouse, the Great Lake Shipwreck Museum, and the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory.
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum includes exhibits, shipwreck artifacts, models, and artwork. An admission fee is required to enter the museum or lighthouse, but it is free to walk the grounds on the museum complex.
The S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, a 729-foot freighter, sank during a storm in November 1975 with her entire crew of 29. The wreck lies 15 miles northwest of Whitefish Point. Its bell is displayed in the museum as a memorial to her lost crew. Each year on November 10, there is a memorial service at the Whitefish Point Light Station for the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The ship’s bell is rung 30 times, once for each member of the crew and one time for all mariners who have been lost at sea.
Admission to the museum gets you access to tour of the Lightkeepers Quarters. The quarters have exhibits and artifacts plus period furnishings for the building.
Also on the museum complex, the M.M. Drake’s rudder and tiller are displayed by the lighthouse. In October 1901, the 212-foot schooner accompanying the Drake took on water in a storm. The 201-foot Drake came alongside the schooner to rescue its crew. After the last man made it aboard the Drake, the storm caused the schooner to strike it, fracturing the Drake’s stern and losing her smoke stack. Both crews were rescued by two freighters that came upon the failing Drake hours later.
Whitefish Point Light
The Whitefish Point Light is the oldest active light on Lake Superior! An original stone tower existed here from 1849 to 1860, but it was strained by severe winds. Now visitors can view the iron and copper tower erected in 1861.
Lake Superior Shoreline
There is a universally accessible boardwalk leading to an overlook of the shoreline. On a clear day, you might catch a glimpse of Canada across the lake.
The overlook has stairs for visitors to access the beach. Near the boardwalk it is sandy but other parts of the shoreline are filled with small stones and larger rocks. The rocks are smooth and colorful, which creates an enjoyable walk down the beach. During our visit, many ‘rockhounds’ were walking the beach, possibly in search of agates which can be found on the shore.
Without viewing the lakes in person, it is hard to imagine there were so many shipwrecks in one location. Great history at this Point.
The song, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, by Gordon Lightfoot was my first knowledge of this ship that sunk. Wonderful they are keeping the history and artifacts from these different vessels.
Thanks for sharing all this history with us.
Thanks Charlotte! I was SO surprised at the amount of shipwrecks on the lake! Now having been to the Great Lakes, and seeing the waves they can create, it makes more sense.