Missing Lake Michigan shipwreck found after 150 years. What we know

The passenger steamer for greater than 150 years Lac La Belle had gone lacking within the depths of Lake Michigan. Now probably the most wished lacking ships has been discovered.

In line with a report dated February 13 press release of Shipwreck World, a bunch that locates shipwrecks world wide, the passenger steamer Lac La Belle was discovered by, amongst others, Illinois Shipwreck Hunter and Scuba Diver Paul Ehorn.

Many looked for the ship for years earlier than it was discovered upright and intact by Ehorn and his associate, Bruce Bittner.

Ehorn’s discovery of Lac La Belle occurred in October 2022, he told the Related Press in an interview.

Nevertheless, the announcement was postponed as a result of his different commitments saved his diving staff from returning to the wreck till final summer season.

Two hours into their second go, a big object crawled throughout the display screen of Ehorn’s Klein side-scan sonar. They instantly rotated and seen it in greater decision, exhibiting the arches of Lac La Belle.

“It was a second of actual pleasure,” Ehorn mentioned press release. “We knew we had finished it.”

The wreck’s distance from the coast and unhealthy climate prevented Ehorn from analyzing the wreck for nearly two years.

Ultimately, Ehorn, who’s now 80, recruited divers John Janzen and John Scoles to dive and movie the deep wreck, the information launch mentioned.

The precise location of the wreck has not been disclosed.

“Though her superstructure has been blown away, you’ll be able to see all of her picket framing and a few of her cargo is uncovered,” Ehorn mentioned.

Inbuilt 1864 in Ohio, Lac La Belle spent its early years transferring from Cleveland to Lake Superior.

After being sunk by collision within the St. Clair River in 1866, she was raised, overhauled and bought by Milwaukee’s Englemann Transportation Co. in 1869.

On October 13, 1872, with 53 passengers and crew and a cargo of 19,000 bushels of barley, 1,200 barrels of flour, 50 barrels of pork, and 25 barrels of whiskey on board, she started leaking uncontrollably.

When the captain tried to return the ship to Milwaukee, the climate deteriorated and it started to sink.

Eight folks have been killed within the sinking.

Ehorn plans to create a 3D picture mannequin of the wreck on March 7 Ghost Ship Festival 2026 in Manitowoc.

Jalen Williams is a trending reporter on the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.