19th-century shipwreck discovered in Lake Michigan after 60-year search

"Shipwreck hunting is a passion, a disease-once you start, you cannot quit. The 80-year-old recently announced the discovery of the Lac La Belle, a 217ft passenger steamer that lay at the bottom of Lake Michigan for more than 150 years. On a stormy October night in 1872, just two hours after departing Milwaukee for Grand Haven, Michigan, the wooden ship was damaged in a gale and sank."

"The Great Lakes have a treacherous history. More than 6,000 shipwrecks have been documented, most dating from between 1840 and 1900. There were too many ships in a confined space next to bad weather, mainly in the fall. In Lake Michigan alone, 1,500 vessels went under. The most common cause of wrecks was being pushed to shore, with fragments often exposed. Far fewer sank in deep waters like the Lac La Belle."

"The Lac La Belle was a top vessel in quality and demand. It was also 30% faster than other steamers. The ship had parlours and an elegant main salon with ornate chandeliers. In addition to serving well-to-do passengers, it was part of a commercial route-the ship was carrying 19,000 bushels of barley, 1,200 barrels of flour, 50 barrels of pork and 25 barrels of whiskey when it sank."

The Great Lakes contain over 6,000 documented shipwrecks, primarily from 1840 to 1900, with Lake Michigan alone accounting for 1,500 vessels. Most wrecks resulted from ships being pushed to shore during fall storms, though deep-water sinkings like the Lac La Belle were rarer. The Lac La Belle was a high-quality, fast passenger steamer that sank in October 1872 during a gale two hours after departing Milwaukee, killing eight of 53 people aboard. The ship featured luxury amenities including parlours and ornate chandeliers, and carried commercial cargo including barley, flour, pork, and whiskey. It operated on a commercial route connected to Michigan's 1858 railroad linking Detroit to Grand Haven.

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