Paul Ehorn found the vessel’s upright hull nearly 150 years after it went down. The ship rests intact on the lakebed, with much of its wooden framing still visible.

Built in 1864 in Cleveland, Ohio, Lac La Belle initially operated between Cleveland and Lake Superior. In 1866, it sank in 25 feet of water in the St. Clair River following a collision. The vessel was raised in 1869 and reconditioned before returning to service. 

Milwaukee’s Engelmann Transportation Co. later purchased the steamer and operated it in passenger service between Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Grand Haven, Michigan. 

On Oct. 13, 1872, the vessel departed Milwaukee in a moderate gale carrying 53 passengers and crew, along with a cargo that included 19,000 bushels of barley, 1,200 barrels of flour, 50 barrels of pork and 25 barrels of whiskey. About two hours into the voyage, the ship began taking on water from an unknown source. The captain turned back toward Milwaukee, but worsening weather and heavy seas extinguished the boiler fires. 

The vessel was driven south by the storm and slowly began to sink. The captain ordered lifeboats to be lowered. Eight people died when one lifeboat capsized. The other survivors reached the shore between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin. 

An Uncertain Location 

The location of the vessel’s sinking had long been uncertain, resulting in a broad search area. In 2022, maritime historian Ross Richardson identified historical information that narrowed the search grid.

Ehorn and his partner, Bruce Bittner, conducted a side-scan sonar survey using Ehorn’s Klein system. On their second pass over the target area, they identified a large object. Higher-resolution imaging revealed structural features consistent with Lac La Belle. 

Weather and the wreck’s offshore location delayed a dive investigation for nearly two years. At age 80, Ehorn enlisted divers John Janzen and John Scoles to document the site. 

Video footage shows the 217-foot vessel largely intact, though its superstructure is missing. Portions of the wooden framing and cargo remain visible. 

Ehorn plans to create a 3D photogrammetry model to document the wreck’s condition and layout before publicly releasing its location. 

He is scheduled to present details of the discovery, including underwater video, at the Ghost Ships Festival on March 7, 2026, at the Inn on Maritime Bay in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. 

Featured photo: The bow of the Lac La Belle. Photo courtesy of Paul Ehorn