WHITEFISH POINT, MI. – A documentary film chronicling a 411-mile memorial swim to honor the 29 crew members who died aboard the Edmund Fitzgerald will be released Nov. 10 in theaters and via streaming. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society and Big Fin Pictures announced the release of “We Finished Their Journey: the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim,” which documents a relay swim completed in 2025 to mark the 50th anniversary of the ship’s sinking.
The swim began July 26, 2025, directly over the Edmund Fitzgerald wreck site in Lake Superior after the Canadian Ministry granted permits for a ceremony honoring the lost crew. Seventy swimmers completed 17 stages to symbolically finish the ship’s final journey, reaching Detroit to mark the final stop for the iron ore load the vessel never delivered.
The month-long swim relay presented challenges including storms, lightning, injuries, blood clots, boat problems and personality conflicts, according to the information released about the film.
“This film tells the story of a remarkable journey, completed by good people for all the right reasons,” said event director Jim “the Shark” Dreyer, who is known for his many long-distance and Great Lakes swims. “These athletes pushed their personal limits to write a new chapter in the legacy of the Edmund Fitzgerald that memorializes the 29-crew members who perished.”
Executive producer and director Corey Adkins described the production as complex, noting the film captures more than 20 different stories from dozens of participants.
Proceeds from the swim supported maintenance of the light tower at Whitefish Point, home to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum where the Edmund Fitzgerald’s bell is displayed. Bruce Lynn, executive director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, said the organization was honored to receive the fundraiser proceeds.
Read more here.
The Edmund Fitzgerald’s bell.
