Imagine a luxurious steamer, once the pride of the Great Lakes, now a ghostly relic hidden beneath the waves for over 150 years. This is the story of the Lac La Belle, a ship lost to history—until now. After nearly six decades of searching, a team of dedicated shipwreck hunters has finally uncovered its resting place in Lake Michigan. But here's where it gets fascinating: the discovery wasn't just about luck—it was a puzzle solved with clues, persistence, and a bit of secrecy. And this is the part most people miss: the race to find these wrecks is intensifying, as invasive species threaten to erase them forever.
In October 2022, a team led by Illinois shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn, part of the global organization Shipwreck World, located the Lac La Belle about 20 miles offshore between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin. Ehorn, now 80, has been on the trail of this ship since 1965, making this discovery a lifelong achievement. The announcement was delayed because the team wanted to include a detailed 3D video model of the wreck, but poor weather and other commitments kept them from returning to the site until the following summer.
Ehorn described the search as a game of solving puzzles, often with limited pieces. This time, a crucial clue from fellow shipwreck hunter and author Ross Richardson in 2022 helped narrow down the search area. Using side-scan sonar, the team located the ship in just two hours on the lake. 'It’s super elating,' Ehorn said of the moment they found it. However, both Ehorn and Richardson remained tight-lipped about the specific clue, highlighting the competitive nature of shipwreck hunting and the need to protect valuable research methods.
Built in 1864 in Cleveland, Ohio, the Lac La Belle was a massive 217-foot steamer that initially sailed between Cleveland and Lake Superior. After sinking in the St. Clair River in 1866 due to a collision, it was raised and reconditioned. Tragedy struck again on the night of October 13, 1872, when the ship left Milwaukee for Grand Haven, Michigan, during a fierce gale. Carrying 53 passengers, crew, and cargo including barley, pork, flour, and whiskey, the ship began leaking uncontrollably. Despite the captain’s efforts to return to Milwaukee, massive waves extinguished the boilers, and the storm drove the ship south. By 5 a.m., the captain ordered the lifeboats lowered, and the ship sank stern first. Eight people died when one lifeboat capsized, while the others reached the Wisconsin coast between Racine and Kenosha.
Today, the wreck is encrusted with invasive quagga mussels, and its upper cabins are gone, but the hull remains intact, and the oak interiors are surprisingly well-preserved. This discovery is the 15th for Ehorn, who notes that finding shipwrecks is becoming increasingly challenging as the easier ones have already been located.
The Great Lakes are estimated to hold between 6,000 and 10,000 shipwrecks, most of which remain undiscovered. However, the urgency to find them has grown due to invasive quagga mussels, which are slowly destroying these underwater time capsules. Is it a race against time to preserve our maritime history, or are we already too late? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below—this is a conversation worth having.
