Luxury Steamer Lac La Belle Found in Lake Michigan After 153 Years

A luxury steamer that sank in Lake Michigan during a gale in 1872 has been discovered, completing a search that began nearly six decades ago. The wreck of the Lac La Belle was found approximately 20 miles offshore between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Discovery and Delayed Announcement

Shipwreck World, a group dedicated to locating shipwrecks globally, announced the discovery on Friday, February 14, 2026. The wreck was initially located in October 2022 by a team led by Illinois shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn. The announcement was delayed to allow for the creation of a three-dimensional video model of the ship, a process hindered by poor weather and other commitments .

A Lifelong Search

Paul Ehorn, 80, has been searching for shipwrecks since the age of 15 and had been specifically trying to locate the Lac La Belle since 1965. He utilized a clue from fellow wreck hunter and author Ross Richardson in 2022 to narrow his search area, ultimately finding the ship using side-scan sonar after just two hours on the lake .

The Sinking of the Lac La Belle

The Lac La Belle, originally registered in Cleveland, Ohio, and later based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, carried 53 passengers and crew when it encountered a fierce storm in mid-October 1872. Eight people perished in the disaster . The ship had departed Milwaukee for Grand Haven, Michigan, carrying a cargo of barley, pork, flour, and whiskey. Approximately two hours into the voyage, the ship began taking on water uncontrollably, forcing the captain to turn back. Though, high waves extinguished the boilers, and the storm drove the vessel south. Lifeboats were launched around 5:00 a.m., shortly before the ship sank stern-first .

Condition of the Wreck

Despite its violent end, the Lac La Belle remains remarkably well-preserved. The hull is intact and the ship is upright. The upper cabins are destroyed, but the oak interior is well-preserved, and the wreck is covered in quagga shells .

Great Lakes Shipwrecks

The Great Lakes are home to an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 shipwrecks, most of which remain undiscovered . Researchers are increasingly focused on locating these wrecks as invasive mussels threaten to destroy the remains .