Wreck of steamer lost in 1872 discovered in Lake Michigan

A group that specializes in discovering shipwrecks around the world announced Friday that a team led by shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn had found the wreck of the Lac La Belle, a steamer that disappeared in 1872, lying approximately 20 miles offshore between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin in Lake Michigan. The discovery marks the culmination of years of searching for this particular vessel, which was a significant part of the Great Lakes maritime history before its mysterious disappearance during a routine journey. The Lac La Belle was a wooden steamship that served as a package freighter, transporting goods between various ports on the Great Lakes before it vanished with all hands on board in 1872, leaving behind an enduring maritime mystery that has captivated historians and enthusiasts for over 150 years. The team utilized advanced underwater scanning technology and historical research to pinpoint the exact location of the wreck, which remains remarkably preserved in the cold freshwater of Lake Michigan, providing researchers with an unprecedented opportunity to study a well-preserved example of 19th-century Great Lakes shipping.