Luxury steamer that sank in Lake Michigan more than 150 years ago has been found

February 16, 2026

TL;DR

The wreck of the Lac La Belle, a luxury steamer that sank in Lake Michigan in 1872, was discovered in October 2022.
The discovery was the culmination of a search that began nearly 60 years ago, led by Illinois shipwreck hunter Paul Ehron.
The Lac La Belle sank with 53 passengers and crew on board, resulting in eight fatalities when a lifeboat capsized.
The wreck is covered in quagga mussels, but its hull and oak interiors are reported to be intact.
The Great Lakes are estimated to hold between 6,000 and 10,000 shipwrecks, many of which remain undiscovered.

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