Why a Michigan museum rings a dead man’s bell 29 times each November

The 1995 Recovery of Edmund Fitzgerald’s Bronze Bell

The Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a fierce Lake Superior storm on November 10, 1975, taking all 29 men with it. For twenty years, the ship sat silent 530 feet down.

Then on July 4, 1995, an odd team joined forces – the Shipwreck Society, National Geographic, Canadian Navy, Sony, and Chippewa Indians who backed a $250,000 loan.

Diver Bruce Fuoco spent three hours underwater in a special Newtsuit, cutting free the ship’s 200-pound bronze bell while family members watched from above.

The bell now sits at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, where each November it rings 29 times – once for each lost sailor.

The story behind this remarkable recovery waits for you at Whitefish Point.

Five Groups Teamed Up to Salvage the Warship

In 1995, five groups worked together on a tough underwater job. The Sault Tribe helped get a $250,000 loan for the project.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, Canadian Navy, Sony, and Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians joined forces.

Joe MacInnis led the team, with National Geographic’s photographer Emory Kristof taking pictures.

They chose July 4, 1995, exactly 20 years after the ship sank with all 29 crew members in a bad Lake Superior storm.

The Special Diving Suit Made Deep Work Possible

Canadian engineer Phil Nuytten built a diving suit that changed deep shipwreck work forever. His Newtsuit kept divers at normal pressure even in deep water, letting them work without getting the bends.

Bruce Fuoco got picked to wear the high-tech suit for the tricky job. The team gave him an underwater torch strong enough to cut through the bell’s bronze brackets.

Without this new technology, working 535 feet underwater would have been nearly impossible in Lake Superior’s cold, dark waters.

Family Members Watched From a Navy Ship

About twelve families of the lost sailors came to see the bell recovery. They waited on the Canadian Navy ship HMCS Cormorant while divers worked far below.

For these families, the bell linked them to loved ones they lost twenty years earlier.

News teams filmed the moving scene as the recovery happened, bringing national attention to the project.

The families reminded everyone that beyond the technical challenge, this mission honored 29 men who never returned home.

The Diver Worked Three Hours Deep Underwater

Bruce Fuoco started his risky dive on July 3, 1995, dropping to the spooky wreck 535 feet below. He aimed for the pilothouse roof where the 200-pound bronze bell still hung after 20 years underwater.

The job took three full hours in the pitch-black, freezing conditions of Lake Superior. Fuoco carefully cut through the bell’s mounts, working slowly to protect the precious item.

The wreck’s bad condition made the work harder than planned, but Fuoco freed the bell from its longtime resting spot.

The Wreck Came Up on Independence Day

The heavy bronze bell finally broke the surface at 1:25 p.m. on July 4, 1995, creating a powerful moment for everyone watching.

Family members on the ship saw for the first time the artifact that went down with their loved ones 20 years before.

The 200-pound bell showed heavy rust from its long stay in Lake Superior. The recovery finished a mission many thought couldn’t be done.

The bell carries stories of the ship’s last trip and the 29 men who died with it.

A New Bell Honors Each Lost Sailor

The team didn’t leave the wreck without a replacement. They took down a specially made copy with all 29 crew members’ names carved into it.

This new bell turned the wreck into a lasting underwater memorial. The original site became a protected grave, with the copy serving as a tribute to the lost sailors.

Families backed the plan to place this memorial at their loved ones’ final resting place. The new bell helps visitors to the wreck remember the human cost of the 1975 disaster.

Experts Used Tiny Tools for Careful Cleaning

Michigan State University specialists took on the job of fixing the badly damaged bell. Their careful work took hundreds of hours of cleaning and preservation.

The team used dental picks to slowly remove rust from the bell’s detailed surfaces. Formic acid treatments helped dissolve deeper layers of rust and sea growth.

The experts worked carefully to keep the bell’s historic look while making it stable enough for display, recording each step they took.

Baking Soda Spray Showed the Original Surface

The cleanup team used a gentle baking soda spray to clean areas too fragile for other methods. This process slowly uncovered the original bronze without hurting the metal.

Workers took photos of each cleaning stage to record the bell’s condition.

The team moved slowly, careful not to remove the patterns formed during the bell’s 20 years underwater. They aimed to clean the bell enough for display while keeping its real character and historic importance.

Six Coats of Protection for the Bronze

The team put on multiple protective layers to make sure the bell would last for years. They carefully brushed on six separate coats of special lacquer to protect the bronze from air, moisture, and handling.

The layered approach created a strong shield against future rust and damage. This treatment let the bell be safely shown and sometimes handled during memorial events.

The final coating readied the historic item for its permanent home at Whitefish Point, where thousands of visitors would see it each year.

The Museum Created a Permanent Home Near the Wreck Site

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point became the forever home for the restored bell.

The museum sits close to where the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, making it the perfect location for this important artifact.

Staff created a special display that puts the bell in the context of Great Lakes shipping history and the famous 1975 disaster.

The bell turned the museum into a pilgrimage site for families, sailors, and history buffs from across the country.

Honoring the Lost Crew Each Year at Whitefish Point

The museum started a moving tradition that continues today at Whitefish Point.

Every November 10, on the anniversary of the sinking, they ring the bell 29 times. The yearly event draws families of the sailors and members of the maritime community.

The Whitefish Point ceremony has become the most significant way people remember the Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy and the men who went down with her.

Visiting SS Edmund Fitzgerald, Whitefish Point

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at 18335 N. Whitefish Point Road in Paradise displays the recovered bronze bell from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.

You can visit May through October, 9am to 5pm for $13 adults, $9 for kids 17 and under. Your ticket gets you into the main gallery, 1861 Lightkeeper’s Quarters, Surfboat House, and video theater.

The 50th anniversary memorial ceremony happens November 10, 2025 at 2pm.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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