What Happened to The Great Lakes’ ‘Holy Grail’ Of Shipwrecks?

Searching for buried treasure is an idea that has captivated people for hundreds of years. From modern archeologists searching for cities of the past to the average Joe walking the beach with a metal detector, the belief in finding something that once was has persisted across the world.

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It's the wonder of "What happened?" that keeps people interested in the past, and it is this wonderment that causes shipwrecks like the Le Griffon, which happened nearly 350 years ago, to continue to be a thriving mystery among the Great Lakes, one that has never been solved.

What was the Le Griffon?

The Le Griffon was the first full-sized cargo ship to sail through the Great Lakes, built by famous French explorer Robert de La Salle. The explorer was an esteemed trader and understood the value the Great Lakes offered as a channel for trade.

Read More: Shipwreck Mystery Solved: WW2 Era Ship Found In Lake Superior |

So in 1679, the newly constructed ship set sail to Green Bay, Wisconsin to load up on "valuable furs and other goods" to bring back to France. Sadly, much like The Titanic, the ship would not complete its maiden voyage.

Le Griffon's Mysterious Disappearance

It is not known how or why the massive ship never completed its journey, but what is known is that the ship departed from Green Bay in July of 1679 and was never seen again. There are many theories about what could have happened to the ship.

La Salle himself believes the crew, forced to build the ship under awful conditions, committed mutiny, stole the loot for themselves, and sunk the ship. However, other theories include attacks by Native Americans and severe weather, a common cause for shipwrecks. Shipwreck estimates inside the Great Lakes range from 6,000 to 25,000.

Was Le Griffon ever found?

Though there is no definitive answer for whether the wreck was ever found, one couple from Charlevoix, Michigan believes they've cracked the old mystery 345 years after it disappeared. Steve and Kathie Libert have spent 40 years searching for the ship's remains, and in 2022, went public with their findings.

There are many skeptics of their findings, but physical evidence and years of research have led the Liberts to believe the wreckage lies somewhere near Poverty Island, a chain of small islands far up north in Lake Michigan. There has yet to be an official discovery, but their findings are compelling.

The true story of Le Griffon will be a mystery for years to come, but until then, it remains a point of fascination for researchers around the world.