TOLEDO, Ohio — As the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald approaches, Toledo is reflecting on the role its waterfront workforce has played in shaping Great Lakes shipping.

Ships still glide along the Maumee River, carrying coal, grain, salt and other raw materials from Toledo’s docks to destinations across the region. But beyond the cargo and steel, the city’s maritime history is a story of labor, logistics and commerce that has connected Toledo to the rest of the country for generations.

“Toledo is a major partner in all Great Lakes shipping and then within that meaning all over U.S. commerce,” said Carrie Sowden, director of archaeology and research at the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

She noted that the city’s location as a transportation hub, with rail l

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