Searchers Find Wreck of Luxury Steamer Lost in Lake Michigan Over 150 Years Ago

The Lac La Belle, which sank in a gale in 1872, was discovered by a veteran shipwreck hunter after a 60-year search.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A search team led by Illinois shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn has discovered the wreck of the luxury steamer Lac La Belle, which sank in a Lake Michigan gale in 1872. The 217-foot steamer went down with 53 passengers and crew after taking on water uncontrollably during a storm. Ehorn has been searching for the wreck since 1965 and used a clue from fellow wreck hunter Ross Richardson 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 is significant as it sheds light on a little-known maritime disaster from the late 19th century. The Great Lakes are home to thousands of undiscovered shipwrecks, and shipwreck hunters have been searching the lakes with more urgency in recent years due to concerns that invasive quagga mussels are slowly destroying the wrecks.

The details

The Lac La Belle was built in 1864 in Cleveland, Ohio and ran between Cleveland and Lake Superior. It sank in the St. Clair River in 1866 after a collision but was raised and reconditioned. On October 13, 1872, the ship left Milwaukee for Grand Haven, Michigan in a gale with 53 passengers and crew and a cargo of barley, pork, flour, and whiskey. About two hours into the trip, the ship began taking on water uncontrollably. The captain turned the ship back toward Milwaukee but huge waves extinguished the boilers, and the storm drove the ship south. Around 5 a.m., the captain ordered lifeboats lowered and the ship went down stern-first.

  • The Lac La Belle sank on October 13, 1872.
  • Ehorn has been searching for the wreck since 1965.

The players

Paul Ehorn

An 80-year-old Illinois shipwreck hunter who has been searching for shipwrecks since he was 15 years old. He has been trying to pinpoint the location of the Lac La Belle since 1965 and used a clue from fellow wreck hunter Ross Richardson to finally locate the wreck in 2022.

Ross Richardson

A shipwreck hunter and author who provided Ehorn with a clue that helped him narrow down the search area and find the Lac La Belle wreck.

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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 Ehorn (AP)

“The information could alert searchers to another way to conduct research.”

— Ross Richardson (AP)

The takeaway

The discovery of the Lac La Belle wreck highlights the ongoing efforts of shipwreck hunters to uncover the hidden maritime history of the Great Lakes, even decades after a disaster occurred. As invasive species continue to threaten these underwater time capsules, the race is on to locate and preserve these important historical artifacts before they are lost forever.