She was more than just a freighter—it was an icon of Great Lakes shipping, a vessel that carried both massive cargo and an air of prestige. When it was launched in 1958 at the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, Michigan, it was the largest ship ever to sail the Great Lakes, stretching an impressive 729 feet from bow to stern. Built to transport iron ore from mines in Minnesota to steel mills across the Midwest, the Fitzgerald was a titan of industry, capable of hauling over 26,000 tons of taconite pellets in a single trip. Its size and reputation quickly earned it a variety of nicknames, from the “Pride of the American Side” to the “Titanic of the Great Lakes.” Owned by the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company—one of the few insurers to directly own a ship—it was considered a prime investment, and the company spared no expense in making it one of the finest freighters on the water.

80+ piece STL file pack. All large parts are high poly for the best surface finish. Parts include hull pieces, decks, deck hatch covers, bulkheads, hatches, propellers, shafts, side barriers, stair railings, dinghies etc. required for you to build your giant ship model. 4 additional parts have been added to the filepack to build a wrecked ship model. Hull files separated at the water line is also included.