Searchers find wreck of luxury steamer lost in Lake Michigan

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Searchers have discovered the wreck of a luxury steamer that sank in a Lake Michigan gale in the late 19th century, completing a quest that began almost 60 years ago. Shipwreck World, a group that works to locate shipwrecks around the globe, announced that a team led by Illinois shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn found the Lac La Belle about 20 miles offshore between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin, in October 2022.

Why it matters

The discovery of the Lac La Belle wreck provides closure to a long-running mystery about the fate of the luxury steamer, which sank with all hands in a fierce Lake Michigan storm in the late 1800s. The wreck also offers a glimpse into the maritime history of the region and the challenges faced by early Great Lakes sailors.

The details

Shipwreck World, a global shipwreck exploration group, led the team that located the Lac La Belle wreck in October 2022. The team, headed by Illinois-based shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn, found the wreck about 20 miles offshore between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Lac La Belle was a luxury steamer that sank with all hands during a fierce Lake Michigan storm in the late 19th century.

• The Lac La Belle sank in a late 19th century gale on Lake Michigan.
• Shipwreck World's team led by Paul Ehorn found the wreck in October 2022.