On This Day In History

Today marks the 51st anniversary of the most famous shipwreck to occur on Lake Superior.

Of the 29 sailors lost to the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald two were natives of Sturgeon Bay.  The connection to Great Lakes maritime shipping history goes a bit deeper yet.

The USCG tug Naugatuck was the first Coast Guard vessel to respond on the scene of the missing freighter.  The crew recovered life rings, jackets, life boat oars and other debris over three days on the scene.

The Naugatuck is still working on the Great Lakes. 

In 2022, the vessel was acquired by Great Lakes Towing. After undergoing major refit and restoration work—transitioning from its traditional Selvick green-and-white paint scheme to Great Lakes Towing's signature maroon/red—the 86-year-old tug remains a hardworking asset. It is frequently stationed near the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where it breaks harbor ice and moves massive winter-fleet ships.

Small maritime world.