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

The Lac La Belle, a 19th-century luxury steamer, was discovered by a team led by shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn after a 60-year search.

Published on Feb. 17, 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. The wreck was found by a team led by Illinois shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn, who has been searching for the ship since 1965. The 217-foot steamer sank in 1872 with 53 passengers and crew on board, and its wreckage has remained undiscovered for over 150 years.

Why it matters

The discovery of the Lac La Belle wreck is a significant find for shipwreck hunters, as the Great Lakes are home to thousands of undiscovered wrecks. The race is on to locate and document these historical artifacts before they are destroyed by invasive quagga mussels.

The details

Ehorn used a clue from fellow wreck hunter and author Ross Richardson to narrow down his search grid, and found the ship using side-scan sonar after just two hours on the lake. The wreck's exterior is covered with quagga mussels, and the upper cabins are gone, but the hull looks intact and the oak interiors are still in good shape.

  • The Lac La Belle sank on October 13, 1872.
  • Ehorn has been searching for the wreck since 1965.
  • The wreck was discovered in October 2022.

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 wreck hunter and author who provided Ehorn with a clue that helped narrow down the search grid.

Shipwreck World

A group that works to locate shipwrecks around the globe and announced the discovery of the Lac La Belle.

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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 Associated Press)

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

— Ross Richardson (The Associated Press)

The takeaway

The discovery of the Lac La Belle wreck is a testament to the dedication and persistence of shipwreck hunters like Paul Ehorn, who have spent decades searching for these historical artifacts. As the Great Lakes continue to face threats from invasive species, the race is on to document and preserve these important pieces of history before they are lost forever.