The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University is hosting an exhibition titled "Gales of November: Shipwrecks on Lake Superior," which explores the fascinating and tragic history of shipwrecks that occurred during that most dangerous month of the year for sailors on the Great Lakes.
In November, large arctic air masses in Alaska and Canada begin to make their way southeast across the lakes. The Gulf of Mexico contributes to the development of low-pressure systems that make their way north, riding the jet stream towards the Great Lakes. When these systems collide, it creates a very unstable weather pattern that can turn into essentially an inland hurricane. One nickname for these storms is the "Witch of November," characterized by gale-force winds, massive waves and quick-changing weather patterns.
From the earliest days of sailing vessels on Lake Superior, November has taken its toll on the maritime trade. This exhibit looks at some of the more famous and fascinating shipwrecks that led to either the disappearance of a vessel or its eventual destruction.
This coming November will be the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, so the story of that terrible tragedy will be chronicled. Other shipwrecks that will be featured include the Algoma (1885), Bannockburn (1902), Lucerne (1886), Myron (1919) and many others.
Each section will feature images of these ships, copies of weather maps from the day they sank and newspaper headlines of some of the storms that wrecked their havoc on Lake Superior shipping. There will also be several artifacts on display from various Lake Superior shipwrecks on loan from Isle Royale National Park.
In addition, a selection of drawings by the noted maritime artist Ed Pusick is on display. They feature his dramatic interpretations of various shipwrecks, including the Edmund Fitzgerald, and are on loan from the Fred Stonehouse collection at the Marquette Maritime Museum.
The exhibition will be on display in the Beaumier Center's gallery in Gries through Dec. 20 and is free and open to the public. THe center's hours are from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.