Shipwreck Discovered in Lake Michigan After 150 Years

The steamer Lac La Belle, which sank in a storm in 1872, has been found on the lake's bottom.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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After nearly 150 years, the wreckage of the steamer Lac La Belle has been discovered at the bottom of Lake Michigan. The ship sank in a storm in 1872 while carrying passengers and cargo, resulting in the deaths of 8 people when one of the lifeboats capsized. Shipwreck hunter and diver Paul Ehorn located the wreckage in October 2022 using side-scan sonar, though he only recently made the discovery public.

Why it matters

The discovery of the Lac La Belle wreckage sheds light on a long-forgotten maritime disaster and provides an opportunity to learn more about the ship's history and the circumstances surrounding its sinking. It also highlights the challenges of searching for and documenting shipwrecks in the vast and treacherous waters of Lake Michigan.

The details

The Lac La Belle was a 217-foot-long steamer carrying 53 passengers and crew members from Milwaukee to Grand Haven, Michigan when it encountered a severe storm and sprang a catastrophic leak about two hours into the crossing. The ship began to list and the leak flooded the boilers, leading the crew to hurry passengers into the lifeboats. Around 5 a.m., the great wooden ship tilted and sank beneath the surface. One of the lifeboats capsized, resulting in 8 fatalities. The wreckage now sits hundreds of feet deep, requiring technical diving experience and special equipment to access. Ehorn's team found that one of the ship's two propellers was missing, but the vessel still contained some of its cargo, including a pile of barley covered in mold.

  • The Lac La Belle sank on October 13, 1872.
  • Ehorn discovered the wreckage in October 2022, nearly 150 years after the sinking.

The players

Paul Ehorn

An 80-year-old shipwreck hunter and diver who located the wreckage of the Lac La Belle using side-scan sonar.

John Scoles

One of the two divers enlisted by Ehorn to reach the shipwreck and document it with photos and videos.

John Janzen

One of the two divers enlisted by Ehorn to reach the shipwreck and document it with photos and videos.

Brendon Baillod

The chairman and president of the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association, which organizes the Ghost Ships Festival where Ehorn is scheduled to present his discovery.

W. Sanderson

The ship's clerk who witnessed the Lac La Belle's sinking and later recounted the events to The Port Huron Daily Times.

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What they’re saying

“You're just elated. You want to jump up and down. You've found another mystery.”

— Paul Ehorn, Shipwreck Hunter and Diver

“I was really gobsmacked. I said, How the heck did you go out there and find it?”

— Brendon Baillod, Chairman and President, Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association

“About 5 a.m. it became evident that the steamer would go down.”

— W. Sanderson, Ship's Clerk (The Port Huron Daily Times)

What’s next

Ehorn and his team plan to present their discovery of the Lac La Belle wreckage at the Ghost Ships Festival in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in March.

The takeaway

The discovery of the Lac La Belle shipwreck, which has remained hidden for nearly 150 years, highlights the enduring mysteries of the Great Lakes and the dedication of shipwreck hunters like Paul Ehorn to uncover these lost pieces of history, even in the face of the lake's vast and treacherous waters.