Local Team Discovers Historic Steamship Wreck After 150 Years

After nearly 60 years of searching, a team led by shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn has located the wreck of the Lac La Belle in Lake Michigan, approximately 20 miles off the Wisconsin coast. The steamship, which sank during a storm on October 13, 1872, was carrying 53 passengers and cargo when it began to flood and ultimately sank, resulting in the loss of eight lives. Ehorn, who has been pursuing this wreck since 1965, utilized sonar technology to find the ship after receiving a tip from a colleague. The discovery is significant as it highlights the ongoing efforts to locate thousands of undiscovered shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, many of which are at risk from invasive species.

Key Details: • The Lac La Belle sank on October 13, 1872, during a storm. • The wreck was found 20 miles off the coast between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin. • Ehorn has been searching for this ship since 1965 and found it using sonar technology. • The wreck is covered in quagga mussels but the hull remains intact.