A life ring from the ill-fated SS Edmund Fitzgerald, a vessel that remains one of the most infamous shipwrecks in Great Lakes maritime history, has fetched a staggering six-figure sum at auction. The piece, an orange life ring with white stenciled lettering reading "S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald," was sold for $150,000 to a buyer who secured it during a tense and closely watched auction.
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald, launched in the mid-1950s, was once the largest ship on the Great Lakes at that time, carrying tons of iron ore from mines in Minnesota to steel mills in Detroit. On November 9, 1975, the ship set out into Lake Superior, navigating into a storm that would prove catastrophic for the vessel.
On November 10, around seven p.m., the Edmund Fitzgerald found itself beset on all sides by violent winds and towering waves. Despite numerous theories over the years attempting to explain the tragedy, no conclusive evidence has been uncovered, leaving the disaster's cause shrouded in mystery.
A life ring discovered shortly after the ship's demise was eventually loaned to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Michigan, where it spent decades as one of its most prized artifacts. Following a stint on public display, the life ring and an accompanying wooden plank were brought to auction by DuMouchelles Auctioneer and Art Gallery in Detroit.
The event drew attention from collectors, historians, and enthusiasts eager to bid on these remnants of American maritime history. The final sale price of $150,000 far exceeded early estimates that had forecast a price closer to $15,000-$20,000.
DuMouchelles Auctioneer and Art Gallery, which has been in operation since 1927, took care to document the life ring and plank's provenance in great detail. This transparent approach helped establish the authenticity of the artifacts, which undoubtedly played a significant role in their sale price.
The auction coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald's tragic sinking. In recent weeks, numerous memorial services and commemorations have been held across the Great Lakes region, honoring the twenty-nine crew members who lost their lives.
Historians emphasize that pieces like this life ring from famous shipwrecks are incredibly rare to be put up for public sale. These artifacts often succumb to deterioration or never survive long enough to reach shore in a condition that makes them recognizable or preservable.
In the wake of this sale, it's clear that there remains a deep passion and respect for maritime history, particularly when it concerns vessels like the Edmund Fitzgerald whose legacy continues to captivate the imagination.
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald, launched in the mid-1950s, was once the largest ship on the Great Lakes at that time, carrying tons of iron ore from mines in Minnesota to steel mills in Detroit. On November 9, 1975, the ship set out into Lake Superior, navigating into a storm that would prove catastrophic for the vessel.
On November 10, around seven p.m., the Edmund Fitzgerald found itself beset on all sides by violent winds and towering waves. Despite numerous theories over the years attempting to explain the tragedy, no conclusive evidence has been uncovered, leaving the disaster's cause shrouded in mystery.
A life ring discovered shortly after the ship's demise was eventually loaned to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Michigan, where it spent decades as one of its most prized artifacts. Following a stint on public display, the life ring and an accompanying wooden plank were brought to auction by DuMouchelles Auctioneer and Art Gallery in Detroit.
The event drew attention from collectors, historians, and enthusiasts eager to bid on these remnants of American maritime history. The final sale price of $150,000 far exceeded early estimates that had forecast a price closer to $15,000-$20,000.
DuMouchelles Auctioneer and Art Gallery, which has been in operation since 1927, took care to document the life ring and plank's provenance in great detail. This transparent approach helped establish the authenticity of the artifacts, which undoubtedly played a significant role in their sale price.
The auction coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald's tragic sinking. In recent weeks, numerous memorial services and commemorations have been held across the Great Lakes region, honoring the twenty-nine crew members who lost their lives.
Historians emphasize that pieces like this life ring from famous shipwrecks are incredibly rare to be put up for public sale. These artifacts often succumb to deterioration or never survive long enough to reach shore in a condition that makes them recognizable or preservable.
In the wake of this sale, it's clear that there remains a deep passion and respect for maritime history, particularly when it concerns vessels like the Edmund Fitzgerald whose legacy continues to captivate the imagination.
just think about how much love and care went into creating that life ring back in 1975...all those hands that had used it and then the harsh conditions of the lake that took it from them 
now it's being cherished by a new owner, who must be totally stoked to have it in their collection 
$150k is crazy, but I guess when you're talking about history like this, people are willing to shell out the cash 
anyway, it's awesome that more ppl are learning about and appreciating the Edmund Fitzgerald's story 
A life ring from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald just sold 4 $150k lol! I mean, thats pretty cool i guess, but 6 figs is a bit steep dont u think? 
idk wat's so special about it 2 me tho. its just a piece of metal w/ some stenciled letters on it. but hey, if people wanna pay big bucks 4 it then thats their prerogative 
. anywayz i'm glad it went 2 a good home i guess 
. I guess you could say it's a piece of history that's worth its weight in gold 
. The fact that it fetched that kind of cash without even being restored or conserved is crazy - I mean, what's the condition of that life ring? 
. Anyway, it's awesome to see people still passionate about maritime history and willing to pay top dollar for artifacts like this. It just goes to show how much the Edmund Fitzgerald's story has captivated us 
and now its in good hands . cant wait to see where this guy gonna display it 
.
just can you imagine how cool it must be to have a piece of history that was with the ship in its last moments? 
And what about all those theories about the ship sinking? Were they really given any credence during the bidding process? 
. It just goes to show how much people love and respect the Edmund Fitzgerald - it's still a super sad story, but it's also really cool that we can learn more about it through artifacts like this life ring 
. The fact that these artifacts are so rare and hard to find makes me appreciate them even more 
. But at the same time, I wish they wouldn't be sold at auction if we're gonna lose more pieces of history 
.
. The fact that it was sold during the Edmund Fitzgerald's 50th anniversary is pretty cool too, I mean you can feel the significance and nostalgia surrounding this auction 
. can you imagine if they sold a section of the hull or something? that'd be some serious cash, bro