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

The Lac La Belle, a 19th-century luxury steamer, sank in a Lake Michigan gale in 1872 and has now been discovered by a team of shipwreck hunters.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Searchers have discovered the wreck of the Lac La Belle, a luxury steamer that sank in a Lake Michigan gale in the late 19th century, completing a quest that began almost 60 years ago. The 217-foot steamer sank in 1872 while en route from Milwaukee to Grand Haven, Michigan, with 53 passengers and crew. One of the lifeboats capsized, killing eight people, but the other lifeboats made it to shore. The wreck's exterior is now covered in quagga mussels, but the oak interiors are still in good shape.

Why it matters

The discovery of the Lac La Belle wreck is significant as the Great Lakes are home to thousands of undiscovered shipwrecks, many of which are being slowly destroyed by invasive quagga mussels. Shipwreck hunters have been searching the lakes with more urgency in recent years to locate and document these historic vessels before they are lost forever.

The details

The Lac La Belle was built in 1864 in Cleveland, Ohio and originally sank in the St. Clair River in 1866 after a collision. The ship was raised and reconditioned, and began running between Cleveland and Lake Superior. On October 13, 1872, the Lac La Belle left Milwaukee for Grand Haven, Michigan in a gale. 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.
  • Searchers discovered the wreck in October 2022, nearly 150 years after the sinking.

The players

Paul Ehorn

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

Ross Richardson

A shipwreck hunter and author who provided Ehorn with a clue that helped narrow down the search grid and led to the discovery of the wreck.

Shipwreck World

A group that works to locate shipwrecks around the globe and announced the discovery of 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

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

— Ross Richardson

What’s next

The discovery of the Lac La Belle wreck has sparked renewed interest in locating and preserving other historic shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. Shipwreck hunters and researchers plan to continue their efforts to document these underwater treasures before they are lost to time and the elements.

The takeaway

The discovery of the Lac La Belle wreck after over 150 years highlights the importance of ongoing efforts to locate and preserve the thousands of undiscovered shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. These wrecks provide a window into the region's rich maritime history and their protection is crucial as invasive species like quagga mussels threaten to destroy them.