More than 150 years after it sank, the remains of the steamship Lac La Belle have been identified on the floor of Lake Michigan. The discovery, announced in February 2026, follows a long-running search by US shipwreck hunters using side-scan sonar and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys.

The discovery

The wreck was located approximately 20 miles off Racine, Wisconsin, at a depth consistent with historical accounts. 

Searcher Paul Ehorn, who began looking for the vessel decades ago, described the find as the result of years of research and systematic surveying. The team delayed public announcement until detailed imagery and a three-dimensional model could be completed.

The sinking

Built in 1864 in Cleveland, Ohio, Lac La Belle operated as a passenger and cargo steamer on the Great Lakes. By 1872, she was running between Milwaukee and Grand Haven.

On 13 October 1872, the vessel encountered a severe storm. Water reportedly entered the engine room, and the captain attempted to turn back towards Milwaukee. The ship ultimately sank in heavy seas. Contemporary accounts state that eight people died when a lifeboat capsized during the evacuation.

The incident was one of many 19th-century losses that contributed to Lake Michigan’s reputation as a hazardous inland sea.

Preservation conditions

Cold, fresh water has helped preserve substantial portions of the wooden hull. Although upper structures have deteriorated and invasive quagga mussels now cover parts of the wreck, sonar and video footage show key structural features still intact.

The site is considered both a historic resource and a maritime grave. Under US and state law, such wrecks are protected, and disturbance without authorisation is prohibited.

Historical context

According to background information provided by Shipwreck World, Lac La Belle measured approximately 217ft (66m) in length and was designed to carry both freight and passengers—reflecting the rapid economic expansion of the Great Lakes region in the mid-19th century.

The discovery adds to the growing catalogue of documented wrecks in Lake Michigan and provides further insight into steamship construction during the transition from sail to mechanical propulsion.