150 Year Shipwreck Discovered In Lake Michigan: Lac La Belle

2025 was a big year for Lake Michigan shipwrecks, and already 2026 is trying to give last year a run for its money. Last week, famous shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn announced that he'd made his 15th shipwreck discovery in his acclaimed career, this time finding one he'd been searching for since 1965.

The Lac La Belle sank to the bottom of Lake Michigan on a stormy night back in October 1872. This is the story of the Lac La Belle and how it met its watery grave before being rediscovered 61 years later.

Lac La Belle's Fated Voyage

According to Shipwreck World, the Lac La Belle was making a routine trip from Milwaukee to Grand Haven, "carrying 53 passengers, crew, and 19,000 bushels of barley, 1,200 barrels of flour, 50 barrels of pork, and 25 barrels of whiskey." However, it left during a storm and eventually began leaking.

READ MORE: 6,000 Shipwrecks Still Hidden in the Great Lakes

The captain turned the ship back towards Milwaukee, but it was too late. Having taken damage from the waves and with its boiler fires extinguished, the crew had no choice but to abandon ship. In total, 8 passengers perished.

How The Lac La Belle Was Discovered

What made this ship discovery so elusive was that its final resting place was unknown. While the ship's original route was well known, it was sent off course during the storm, leaving shipwreck hunters at a loss.

However, Ehorn found the ship with the help of Ross Richardson, who narrowed down the search grid so precisely that Ehorn managed to find the ship almost instantly. With the help of snoar technology, the ship was easily found. For the legendary shipwrecker, his 15th find is special, but" now it's on to the next one."

View the full shipwreck photos below.