URGENT UPDATE: A **search team** has just confirmed the discovery of the wreck of the **Lac La Belle**, a luxury steamer lost in **Lake Michigan** more than **150 years ago**. The announcement comes from **Shipwreck World**, a dedicated group of shipwreck explorers, revealing a monumental find that has excited maritime historians and enthusiasts alike.
The wreck was located approximately **32 kilometers off the coast** between **Racine** and **Kenosha, Wisconsin**, in **October 2022**, but was only disclosed publicly on **Friday** after delays due to adverse weather conditions. **Paul Ehorn**, an **80-year-old** shipwreck hunter from Illinois, led the expedition and has been on a quest to pinpoint the Lac La Belle’s location since **1965**.
Ehorn stated in a phone interview, “It’s kind of a game, like solving a puzzle. Sometimes you don’t have many pieces to put together, but this one worked out, and we found it right away.” His team utilized **side-scan sonar** technology, successfully identifying the wreck within just **two hours** of searching.
The **Lac La Belle** was originally constructed in **1864** in Cleveland, Ohio. It operated between Cleveland and **Lake Superior** until its fateful journey on the night of **October 13, 1872**. The ship, carrying **53 passengers and crew**, along with a cargo of barley, pork, flour, and whiskey, encountered a severe gale shortly after departing from **Milwaukee**. Despite attempts to return to shore, the vessel succumbed to monstrous waves, leading to its sinking and the tragic loss of **eight lives**.
The wreck site has not been without its challenges. Ehorn described the ship’s exterior as being covered in **quagga mussels**, with significant deterioration of the upper cabins, although the hull remains largely intact. He observed that the **oak interiors** are still in remarkably good condition, suggesting that the wreck could provide valuable insights into 19th-century shipbuilding and maritime history.
Shipwreck hunters have intensified their efforts in recent years, driven by concerns that invasive species like quagga mussels are rapidly damaging these historical sites. The **Great Lakes** are known to host between **6,000 and 10,000 shipwrecks**, most of which remain undiscovered.
“The Lac La Belle is the **15th shipwreck** I’ve located,” Ehorn said. “It was one more to put a check mark by. Now it’s on to the next one. It’s getting harder and harder. The easier ones have been found.”
As the excitement around this discovery builds, experts and enthusiasts alike are eager to see the three-dimensional video model of the ship that Ehorn’s team plans to release soon. This find not only highlights the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes but also serves as a reminder of the human stories interwoven with these historical vessels.
For those interested in maritime exploration, the story of the **Lac La Belle** stands as a testament to perseverance and the thrill of discovery. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as more details emerge and the video model becomes available.
