A team led by Illinois shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn recently located the long-lost Lac La Belle, a 19th-century luxury steamer that sank in Lake Michigan in 1872. Scuba diver John Janzen, part of the search team, vividly recalls identifying the wreck by its distinctive arches. The discovery, announced by Shipwreck World, was the result of a search that began over six decades ago.
Ehorn, an experienced wreck hunter, received a crucial clue in 2022 that led to the breakthrough. With information from fellow hunter Ross Richardson about a steamship-related item found by a fisherman, Ehorn used side-scan sonar to locate the ship within hours on Lake Michigan.
The history of Lac La Belle includes a previous sinking in 1866, followed by a tragic event in 1872 when it sank again while en route to Grand Haven, Michigan. Despite being covered in quagga mussels, the wreck remains in relatively good condition, with evidence of its cargo still visible inside.
The Great Lakes area is home to thousands of shipwrecks, with many still undiscovered. Shipwreck hunters like Ehorn and Janzen are driven to uncover these historical sites before natural elements like quagga mussels deteriorate them further. Janzen expresses hope for more searches in the future and dismisses the notion of a curse on Lac La Belle, attributing its fate to the unpredictable and unforgiving nature of the Great Lakes.
As Ehorn continues his pursuit of shipwrecks at the age of 80, the team remains committed to exploring and preserving these maritime relics for future generations.