Rare Piece of Great Lakes Maritime History Fetches $150,000 at Detroit Auction
A life ring and a wooden plank believed to be from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, one of America's most infamous shipwrecks, were sold for $150,000 at an auction in Detroit. The artifacts, which have been on display at a museum for decades, drew attention from collectors, historians, and the general public.
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was a massive ore carrier built in the mid-1950s that regularly carried taconite pellets from mines in Minnesota to steel mills in Detroit. On November 9, 1975, the ship departed Superior, Wisconsin, ahead of a storm that would grow violent as it moved across Lake Superior. By the next evening, winds of gale force and towering waves battered the vessel, resulting in its sinking on November 10, with all twenty-nine crew members perishing.
The life ring and wooden plank, discovered shortly after the ship sank in 1975, were eventually loaned to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Michigan, where they remained on display for decades. During that time, they became closely associated with the Edmund Fitzgerald, giving visitors a rare physical link to the ship and its crew.
The artifacts were brought to auction by DuMouchelles Auctioneer and Art Gallery in downtown Detroit, where bidders could view them in person and participate in online bidding. The life ring, an orange item with white stenciled lettering reading "S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald," was sold for $100,000, while the wooden plank was sold for $50,000.
The high price paid for the artifacts has been attributed to their rarity and significance. Museums and historical societies often work hard to preserve such items, and when they are available at auction, it is usually because private owners have decided to sell.
For maritime history researchers and enthusiasts, the sale of these artifacts has been seen as a rare opportunity to own pieces of Great Lakes shipping lore. The sale also comes at a time when the fiftieth anniversary of the sinking was fresh in memory, with memorial services and commemorations held across the region.
The DuMouchelles Auctioneer and Art Gallery played a crucial role in presenting the artifacts with clear documentation of their history, giving bidders confidence in their authenticity and helping to drive the final price.
A life ring and a wooden plank believed to be from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, one of America's most infamous shipwrecks, were sold for $150,000 at an auction in Detroit. The artifacts, which have been on display at a museum for decades, drew attention from collectors, historians, and the general public.
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was a massive ore carrier built in the mid-1950s that regularly carried taconite pellets from mines in Minnesota to steel mills in Detroit. On November 9, 1975, the ship departed Superior, Wisconsin, ahead of a storm that would grow violent as it moved across Lake Superior. By the next evening, winds of gale force and towering waves battered the vessel, resulting in its sinking on November 10, with all twenty-nine crew members perishing.
The life ring and wooden plank, discovered shortly after the ship sank in 1975, were eventually loaned to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Michigan, where they remained on display for decades. During that time, they became closely associated with the Edmund Fitzgerald, giving visitors a rare physical link to the ship and its crew.
The artifacts were brought to auction by DuMouchelles Auctioneer and Art Gallery in downtown Detroit, where bidders could view them in person and participate in online bidding. The life ring, an orange item with white stenciled lettering reading "S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald," was sold for $100,000, while the wooden plank was sold for $50,000.
The high price paid for the artifacts has been attributed to their rarity and significance. Museums and historical societies often work hard to preserve such items, and when they are available at auction, it is usually because private owners have decided to sell.
For maritime history researchers and enthusiasts, the sale of these artifacts has been seen as a rare opportunity to own pieces of Great Lakes shipping lore. The sale also comes at a time when the fiftieth anniversary of the sinking was fresh in memory, with memorial services and commemorations held across the region.
The DuMouchelles Auctioneer and Art Gallery played a crucial role in presenting the artifacts with clear documentation of their history, giving bidders confidence in their authenticity and helping to drive the final price.
I mean, can u believe it? Those artifacts have been on display at a museum for decades and people were still willing to pay a pretty penny for them. The story behind the shipwreck is so tragic but also super fascinating - 29 crew members lost their lives... 
I'm glad that these artifacts are now in good hands and will get to be part of some amazing maritime history research & exhibitions! #MaritimeHistoryMatters #ShipwreckSquad #DetroitAuction
I'm still trying to wrap my head around why someone would pay that much money for an old life ring and a piece of wood from a shipwreck. It's just so... sad, thinking about all those crew members who lost their lives. 
The fact that it sold for $150k is crazy to me, especially when you consider most people can't even afford a new laptop, let alone pay that much for some historical artifacts. 
I mean, are we really willing to shell out that kind of cash just because it's 'rare' and 'significant'? 
. It's crazy how some things can be so valuable just because they're old and associated with a tragedy. I'm not really sure why the life ring sold for $100k and the plank for $50k, but I guess it's all about who's willing to pay the price 
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. The fact that museums and historical societies worked tirelessly to preserve them only adds to the significance. It's a lesson in how our history can shape us, even if it's just a life ring 
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. And can u believe they were on display at a museum for decades? That's like, so cool! 
The museum had 'em for decades, and now some rich dude gets to own a piece of history 
I guess it's nice that museums and historical societies get some money from selling off their stuff, but can't they just keep it where we can learn about it instead of flogging it for a profit