- After a 60-year search, maritime explorers located the wreck of the luxurious steamer Lac La Belle, which sank in Lake Michigan during a violent storm in 1872. The discovery was made using side-scan sonar, aided by a critical clue from fellow wreck hunter Ross Richardson.
- Built in 1864 as a passenger steamer, the Lac La Belle was later repurposed as a freighter. It sank in 1872 while carrying cargo and 53 passengers, with eight lives lost in the disaster. The wreck remained hidden for 153 years until its recent rediscovery.
- Despite being underwater for over a century, the wreck is well-preserved, with a solid hull and intact oak interiors, though quagga mussels cover its exterior and upper cabins have collapsed.
- Invasive mussels threaten Great Lakes shipwrecks, accelerating decay and prompting wreck hunters like Paul Ehorn (who has found 15 wrecks) to document them before they deteriorate further.
- Ehorn intends to showcase the discovery at the 2026 Ghost Ships Festival, revealing underwater footage and a 3D model before disclosing the wreck's exact location. The find highlights both the perseverance of explorers and the enduring mysteries of the Great Lakes.
