Scuba diver John Janzen vividly recalls the moment he realized the shipwreck in front of him was the Lac La Belle. Describing the distinctive arches along the wreck’s length, Janzen expressed confidence in identifying the vessel accurately.
Part of a team led by Illinois shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn, Janzen took part in the search for the 19th-century luxury steamer that sank in Lake Michigan in 1872. The team’s discovery was officially announced by Shipwreck World in October 2022, marking the end of a search initiated over 60 years ago.
Ehorn, with decades of shipwreck hunting experience, received a crucial clue in 2022 from fellow enthusiast Ross Richardson, leading to the successful location of the Lac La Belle using side-scan sonar shortly after setting out onto Lake Michigan.
The history of the Lac La Belle includes a previous sinking in 1866, followed by a refurbishment before its final voyage in 1872. Loaded with passengers and cargo, the ship succumbed to the lake’s fierce conditions, sinking stern-first while passengers escaped on lifeboats, albeit with tragic losses.
Despite being covered in quagga mussels, the wreck remains surprisingly intact, with some visible damage to its upper structures and evidence of the cargo it carried. The discovery sheds light on the Great Lakes’ rich history of shipwrecks, with thousands still waiting to be uncovered amidst concerns over environmental deterioration by invasive species.
Looking ahead, Janzen hopes for more shipwreck explorations, noting Ehorn’s continued passion for the hunt at the age of 80. While some may view the vessel’s misfortune as cursed, Janzen attributes its fate to the unforgiving nature of the Great Lakes, emphasizing the unpredictable and hazardous conditions that ships face on these vast waters.