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

The Lac La Belle, a 217-foot steamer that sank in a gale in 1872, was discovered by a team led by shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn.

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 1872, completing a quest that began almost 60 years ago. The 217-foot ship, which was carrying 53 passengers and crew as well as a cargo of barley, pork, flour, and whiskey, went down after springing a leak and having its boilers extinguished by huge waves. The wreck was found by a team led by veteran shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn, who has been searching for the Lac La Belle since 1965.

Why it matters

The discovery of the Lac La Belle wreck is significant because 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 racing against time to locate and document these sites before they are destroyed by invasive quagga mussels. The Lac La Belle wreck provides a rare glimpse into the history of Great Lakes shipping and the challenges faced by early steamship captains.

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 the night of October 13, 1872, the Lac La Belle left Milwaukee for Grand Haven, Michigan, in a fierce gale. About two hours into the trip, the ship began to leak uncontrollably, and the captain turned it back towards Milwaukee. However, huge waves extinguished the ship's boilers, and the Lac La Belle went down stern-first around 5 a.m. One of the lifeboats capsized, killing eight people, but the other lifeboats made it to shore.

  • The Lac La Belle sank on October 13, 1872.
  • Shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn has been searching for the Lac La Belle since 1965.
  • The wreck was discovered by Ehorn's team in October 2022.

The players

Paul Ehorn

An 80-year-old shipwreck hunter who has been searching for the Lac La Belle since 1965 and led the team that discovered the wreck in 2022.

Ross Richardson

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

Lac La Belle

A 217-foot luxury steamer that sank in a Lake Michigan gale in 1872 while carrying 53 passengers and crew and a cargo of barley, pork, flour, and whiskey.

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, Shipwreck Hunter

“I learned that a commercial fisherman at a 'certain location' had snagged what I called an item specific to steam ships from the 1800s.”

— Ross Richardson, Wreck Hunter and Author

The takeaway

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