Luxury steamer that sank in Lake Michigan over 150 years ago discovered

The wreck of the Lac La Belle, a popular 19th-century passenger ship, was found by a veteran shipwreck hunter after a decades-long search.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The wreck of the Lac La Belle, a luxury steamer that sank in a Lake Michigan gale in 1872, has been discovered by a team led by veteran shipwreck hunter Paul Ehron. The 217-foot ship, which was one of the most popular steamers on Lake Michigan, went down with 53 passengers and crew on board after springing a leak and losing power. Ehron, who has been searching for the wreck since 1965, used a clue from a fellow wreck hunter to narrow down the search area and locate the ship using side-scan sonar.

Why it matters

The discovery of the Lac La Belle wreck provides a rare glimpse into the history of Great Lakes shipping in the 19th century. As one of the most popular passenger steamers on Lake Michigan, the ship's sinking was a significant event at the time. The wreck also highlights the ongoing efforts by shipwreck hunters to locate and preserve the thousands of undiscovered wrecks that lie in the Great Lakes.

The details

The Lac La Belle was built in 1864 in Cleveland, Ohio and spent much of its early years running between Cleveland and Lake Superior. After a collision in 1866 that sank the ship in 25 feet of water in the St. Clair River, it was raised and reconditioned. In 1872, the ship was carrying 53 passengers and crew, as well as a cargo of barley, pork, flour and whiskey, when it began leaking and lost power in a storm. The Lac La Belle went down stern-first as passengers and crew watched from lifeboats, with one lifeboat capsizing and killing 8 people.

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

The players

Paul Ehron

An 80-year-old Illinois shipwreck hunter who has been searching for the Lac La Belle wreck since 1965.

Ross Richardson

A fellow wreck hunter and author who provided Ehron with a clue that helped narrow down the search area for the Lac La Belle.

Englemann Transportation Company

The Milwaukee-based company that purchased the Lac La Belle in 1869 and operated it as a passenger ship on Lake Michigan.

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What they’re saying

“It's kind of a game, like solve the puzzle. Sometimes you don't have many pieces to put the puzzle together but this one worked out and we found it right away.”

— Paul Ehron (Associated Press)

What’s next

The discovery team plans to return to the wreck site this summer to capture more detailed 3D video footage of the Lac La Belle's remains.

The takeaway

The discovery of the Lac La Belle wreck highlights the ongoing efforts by shipwreck hunters to uncover the thousands of undiscovered vessels that lie in the depths of the Great Lakes, providing valuable insights into the region's rich maritime history.