Fifty-one years after the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald went down in a Lake Superior storm with all 29 men aboard, Detroit will mark the loss again over the coming days on Belle Isle. The Dossin Great Lakes Museum is holding four days of Lost Mariners Remembrance events, from a ham radio station on Saturday, Nov. 7, to a riverside wreath ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 8, and a free museum day and evening program on the anniversary itself, Tuesday, Nov. 10, according to the Detroit Historical Society, which runs the museum.
The anniversary has a particular pull in Detroit. The Fitzgerald was bound for the city when it sank on Nov. 10, 1975, on a run from Superior, Wisconsin, the society notes, and the ship’s anchor is displayed at the Dossin. This year the main outdoor ceremony moves to the afternoon and is free, organizers said.
Lost Mariners Remembrance 2026 at a glance
| Date | Event | Time (ET) | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., Nov. 7 | Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event Station (W8F) | 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Museum admission: $5; free for members and children 5 and under |
| Sun., Nov. 8 | Lost Mariners Brunch | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | $85 |
| Sun., Nov. 8 | Lost Mariners Remembrance Ceremony | 3-4 p.m. | Free; registration requested |
| Tue., Nov. 10 | Lost Mariners Day (museum open) | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Free |
| Tue., Nov. 10 | Lost Mariners: An Evening of Remembrance | 6:30-9 p.m. | $25; $20 for members |
All events are at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, 100 Strand Drive on Belle Isle. Details are from the Detroit Historical Society’s events calendar as of Nov. 3 and could change.
The Sunday ceremony: a wreath, bells and a flotilla
The centerpiece is the Lost Mariners Remembrance Ceremony, presented with the Great Lakes Maritime Institute from 3 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. According to the society, a memorial wreath will be carried from the Detroit River to shore and placed near Fitzgerald’s anchor. Bells will then ring for the ship’s crew and for everyone lost on the Great Lakes, followed by a procession of what organizers call an honor flotilla of Canadian and American government and commercial vessels.
Afterward, guests can move indoors for warm drinks and maritime songs by the Great Lakes balladeer Lee Murdock. Admission is free and includes the museum, but the society asks people to register in advance through its ticketing page. The museum is open free that afternoon from 1 to 5 p.m.
Earlier on Sunday, the ticketed Lost Mariners Brunch pairs a Great Lakes presentation and a short set by Murdock with a meal from Detroit’s Common Pub. The menu draws on George Yaworski’s “Ships of the Great Lakes Cookbook,” including its Edmund Fitzgerald chapter, with dishes such as chicken paprikash, beef stew and corn chowder. Organizers said they cannot accommodate dietary restrictions.
Saturday’s radio station and Tuesday’s anniversary
On Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will operate special event station W8F from the museum, the society said. Visitors can watch the operators at work, and amateur radio operators who make contact with W8F can receive a commemorative certificate. The event is included with regular museum admission.
On Tuesday, the anniversary, the Dossin will open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission, outside its usual Wednesday-through-Sunday schedule. There is no scheduled programming during the day, the society said; visitors are invited to walk the galleries and reflect.
That evening, An Evening of Remembrance will screen “We Finished Their Journey,” a documentary about the 2025 Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim, in which 17 relay teams of four swimmers set out to finish the ship’s journey. A question-and-answer session follows with Jim Dreyer, the swimmer who organized the effort, and David Volk, who directed its ground operations. Tickets are $25, or $20 for society members.
Getting there and what to know
- Recreation Passport: Cars entering Belle Isle need a Michigan Recreation Passport, which can be bought on the island. The museum lists 2026 prices of $15 for Michigan-registered vehicles and $12 for an out-of-state day pass. Visitors on foot, bike, or public transit do not need one.
- Parking: The museum lot, off The Strand, is free for vehicles with a valid passport or day pass, according to the museum.
- Crowds: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources temporarily restricts car access to Belle Isle when the island reaches capacity, the museum notes, so allow extra time on Sunday.
- Weather: The Sunday ceremony takes place outdoors by the river. Dress for November weather on the water.
Regular museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, with admission $5 and free for children under 6 and society members, according to the Dossin’s visitor page. Mariners’ Church of Detroit, which holds an annual Great Lakes Memorial Service, had not posted a 2026 date on its website as of Tuesday morning.
Before you go: a quick checklist
- Register for the free Sunday ceremony on the Detroit Historical Society’s registration page; book the brunch or Tuesday evening program separately if you plan to attend.
- If you are driving, buy or renew a Recreation Passport, or plan to buy a day pass at the island entrance.
- Arrive early on Sunday in case the DNR limits car access to Belle Isle.
- Bring warm layers for the riverside ceremony, which runs from 3 to 4 p.m.
Make a weekend of it
The Dossin is one of the smaller stops in our guide to the best museums in Detroit, and the Sunday ceremony pairs easily with other plans. The All Things Detroit Holiday market runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the same day at Eastern Market, a short drive from Belle Isle. For more on the river the ceremony looks out on, see our explainer on the Detroit River’s depth and the Canadian shore.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lost Mariners Remembrance Ceremony free?
Yes. The Sunday, Nov. 8, ceremony from 3 to 4 p.m. is free and includes museum admission, but the Detroit Historical Society asks guests to register online in advance.
When did the Edmund Fitzgerald sink?
The freighter sank in a storm on Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975, while bound for Detroit. All 29 crew members died. Nov. 10, 2026, is the 51st anniversary.
Do I need a Recreation Passport to attend?
Only if you drive onto Belle Isle. Vehicles need a Michigan Recreation Passport or day pass, which can be bought on the island. Walkers, cyclists, and transit riders do not need one.
Is the Dossin open on Nov. 10?
Yes. Although Tuesday is outside its regular schedule, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 10 with free admission, followed by a ticketed evening program from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Last updated Nov. 3, 2026.
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