The long-lost wreck of the Lac La Belle, a grand 217-foot luxury steamer that vanished into the depths of Lake Michigan in the late 19th century, has been imaged for the very first time. This monumental discovery, announced on Sunday, brings closure to a maritime mystery that has endured for over 150 years.
The Fateful Voyage and Tragic Sinking
Constructed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1864, the Lac La Belle embarked on its final journey on the evening of October 13, 1872. The massive vessel set sail from Milwaukee bound for Grand Haven, Michigan, carrying 53 passengers and crew members. Approximately two hours into the voyage, disaster struck as the steamer began taking on an uncontrollable volume of water.
The captain made the desperate decision to turn the ship back toward Wisconsin, but this maneuver proved catastrophic. Enormous waves extinguished the boilers, leaving the vessel powerless. Lifeboats were hastily lowered to evacuate those on board, yet the rescue efforts turned tragic when one of the boats capsized en route to shore, claiming the lives of eight passengers.
The Discovery by Dedicated Shipwreck Hunters
In October 2022, shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn and his dedicated team located the historic wreck approximately 20 miles offshore between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin. Ehorn, who has harbored a dream of finding this archaic ship since he was just 15 years old, described the moment as the culmination of a lifelong passion.
The team deliberately postponed their public announcement until they could accompany the news with a comprehensive three-dimensional video model of the shipwreck. Adverse weather conditions delayed their return to the site until last summer, when they finally captured the breathtaking underwater footage.
Clues and Cutting-Edge Technology
Ehorn credited fellow shipwreck hunter and author Ross Richardson with providing a crucial clue that pinpointed the vessel's location. "It's kind of a game, like solving a puzzle. Sometimes you don't have many pieces to put the puzzle together, but this one worked out and we found it right away," Ehorn recalled to the Associated Press.
Utilizing Richardson's hint, the team narrowed their search grid and employed advanced side-scan sonar technology. Remarkably, they located the steamer after only two hours on the lake. Ehorn noted that Richardson had learned of a commercial fisherman at a specific location who had discovered an item uniquely associated with 1800s steam ships, though the exact nature of the clue remains undisclosed.
Remarkable Preservation and Historical Context
Despite spending over a century submerged, the Lac La Belle exhibits astonishing preservation. Ehorn reported that the hull and its oak interiors remain in excellent condition. However, the exterior has become encased in quagga mussels, and the upper cabins have vanished over time.
This was not the steamer's first brush with disaster. Historical records from Shipwreck World indicate that the Lac La Belle previously sank in the St. Clair River in 1866 following a collision. It was successfully recovered and raised in 1869, undergoing extensive reconditioning before its final, fatal voyage in 1872.
A Legacy of Exploration and Future Plans
The Lac La Belle represents the 15th shipwreck discovery for Paul Ehorn, an 80-year-old veteran of maritime exploration. "It was one more to put a check mark by. Now it's on to the next one. It's getting harder and harder. The easier ones have been found," he stated, reflecting on the increasing challenges of his pursuit.
Ehorn plans to present this major discovery in detail at the 2026 Ghost Ship Festival in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on March 7. During the event, he will showcase the highly anticipated underwater video and narrate the compelling journey that led to this historic find, sharing the story with enthusiasts and historians alike.
