Luxury steamer Lac La Belle, lost in Lake Michigan in 1872, discovered after 150 years

Shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn located the 217-foot vessel 20 miles offshore Wisconsin using side-scan sonar in October 2022, completing a 60-year quest. The steamer sank during a gale with 53 passengers and crew after boilers were extinguished by waves; only lifeboats reached shore, killing eight. Ehorn, 80, found the wreck using a tip from fellow hunter Ross Richardson about a commercial fisherman snagging a steam-ship artifact. The discovery, 15th wreck for Ehorn, left him "super elated" as the hull remains intact despite quagga mussel coverage.

The finding underscores the urgency of Great Lakes shipwreck searches due to invasive species threatening submerged history. While no financial deals or market impacts are mentioned, the discovery highlights the economic value of heritage tourism and underwater archaeology in the region, potentially boosting local interest and related industries.

Ehorn plans to continue searching for other wrecks, acknowledging the increasing difficulty as easier targets are found.