In a recent discovery, the wreck of the 19th-century luxury steamer, Lac La Belle, has been found in Lake Michigan. John Janzen, a scuba diver, vividly recalls the moment they identified the ship by its distinctive arches. The search, led by Paul Ehorn and his team, finally located the sunken vessel in October 2022 after years of exploration.
Ehorn, an experienced shipwreck hunter who has been searching for wrecks for over 60 years, received a crucial clue from Ross Richardson, another wreck hunter. This information led Ehorn to use side-scan sonar to pinpoint the ship’s location within hours of setting out on Lake Michigan. The wreck of Lac La Belle, which first sank in 1872, is now covered in quagga mussels, but remarkably well-preserved.
The ill-fated steamer, originally built in 1864, sank for the second time on a journey from Milwaukee to Grand Haven, Michigan. Despite tragic circumstances that led to the loss of eight lives, the majority of passengers and crew managed to reach safety. Inside the wreck, remnants of its cargo, including barrels of whisky, were discovered.
The Great Lakes are home to thousands of shipwrecks, with many yet to be found. Concerns about invasive species damaging these historical sites have spurred increased efforts to locate and document wrecks. Despite the challenges posed by the harsh environment of the Great Lakes, dedicated individuals like Ehorn continue to explore and uncover the secrets of these underwater time capsules.