Detroit auctioneer DuMouchelles brought to light a rare piece of Great Lakes maritime history, selling a life ring and wooden plank believed to be from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald for $150,000. The items were displayed at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Michigan for decades before being put up for public sale.
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald is one of the most infamous shipwrecks on American history, lost in Lake Superior's violent storms on November 10, 1975. All twenty-nine crew members perished in the disaster. Theories about its sinking have been widely discussed among sailors and historians over the years.
Larry Orr discovered the life ring and wooden plank just days after the ship went down, near Whitefish Bay in Canadian waters. They were eventually loaned to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, where they became a closely associated piece of history for visitors.
This December, DuMouchelles brought these artifacts to Detroit's auction block, with the items' detailed provenance and documentation on display at the museum providing bidders with confidence in their authenticity. The final sale price far exceeded early estimates of $15,000 to $20,000, exceeding expectations by millions.
Maritime history researchers point out that such artifacts rarely appear for public sale due to preservation challenges. Many shipwreck debris pieces disintegrate quickly after reaching shore or are discarded before they can be preserved and recognized.
The auction took place during a poignant moment - the 50th anniversary of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking. Memorial services were held across the region, including at Mariners' Church in Detroit, where a bell has tolled to honor the crew members every year since their loss.
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald is one of the most infamous shipwrecks on American history, lost in Lake Superior's violent storms on November 10, 1975. All twenty-nine crew members perished in the disaster. Theories about its sinking have been widely discussed among sailors and historians over the years.
Larry Orr discovered the life ring and wooden plank just days after the ship went down, near Whitefish Bay in Canadian waters. They were eventually loaned to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, where they became a closely associated piece of history for visitors.
This December, DuMouchelles brought these artifacts to Detroit's auction block, with the items' detailed provenance and documentation on display at the museum providing bidders with confidence in their authenticity. The final sale price far exceeded early estimates of $15,000 to $20,000, exceeding expectations by millions.
Maritime history researchers point out that such artifacts rarely appear for public sale due to preservation challenges. Many shipwreck debris pieces disintegrate quickly after reaching shore or are discarded before they can be preserved and recognized.
The auction took place during a poignant moment - the 50th anniversary of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking. Memorial services were held across the region, including at Mariners' Church in Detroit, where a bell has tolled to honor the crew members every year since their loss.
A life ring and wooden plank from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald that sank on Lake Superior 50 years ago just sold for $150k in Detroit! I mean, can you imagine finding something like that by chance? Larry Orr must be a total legend 
. And its so sad but also really beautiful to think about the crew members who lost their lives and now we get to see these artifacts up close. It's crazy how much history is still out there waiting to be found 
The fact that someone just sold a piece of history from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald for $150k is literally insane! I mean, think about it, 29 people lost their lives in those storms and now we have a life ring and wooden plank that could've been lost forever 
. And to make it even crazier, it was only up for sale because of preservation issues 
. I'm low-key bummed that these artifacts aren't preserved properly so they can be enjoyed by more people in the future 
. It's wild to think about the potential value of these pieces and how they could've been lost forever if it wasn't for someone like DuMouchelles who brought them to the auction block 
.
. I mean, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald is such a tragic loss of life, 29 crew members... it's still shocking to think about 50 years later. The auction was like a tribute to their memory, and now these artifacts are going to a new family... I just hope they appreciate the history behind them 
.
. I mean, it's not like they were just some random trash on the lake or something... but at the same time, $150k is kinda steep for a life ring and some old wood 
... but now those artifacts are gonna sit in some private collector's warehouse, never to see the light of day again 
. I mean, can't we find a way to make this stuff accessible to everyone without having to break the bank? Maybe some kind of rotating exhibit or something? 
. Such a poignant moment to celebrate the lives lost and the stories that remain. It's amazing how these auctions can bring people together and keep the memories of our maritime history alive 
.