Lac La Belle Shipwreck Discovered in Lake Michigan After 150 Years

In Brief

The Lac La Belle steamer, sunk in 1872, has been found in Lake Michigan after decades of searching.

Key Facts

• The Lac La Belle steamer sank in Lake Michigan in 1872 while carrying passengers and cargo.
• The shipwreck was discovered after nearly 60 years of searching by shipwreck hunters.
• Eight people died when one of the Lac La Belle's lifeboats capsized during the sinking.
• Paul Ehorn, a shipwreck hunter and scuba diver, led the search for the Lac La Belle.
• The Lac La Belle was considered one of the most sought-after missing ships in Lake Michigan.

What Happened

Searchers recently located the wreck of the Lac La Belle, a passenger steamer that sank in Lake Michigan in 1872. Shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn and his team found the vessel after nearly 60 years of searching. The ship was carrying passengers and cargo when it sank during a storm.

Why It Matters

The discovery resolves a long-standing maritime mystery and adds to the historical record of Great Lakes shipwrecks. It highlights the persistence of shipwreck hunters and provides closure for historians and descendants of those affected by the tragedy.