Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

SS Lac La Belle US 15803

Explore the wreck of the SS Lac La Belle, a mid-19th-century wooden steam propeller lost in Lake Michigan with a rich history of service and incidents.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: SS Lac La Belle
  • Official Number: 15803
  • Type: Wooden Steam Propeller (Passenger / Package Steamer)
  • Year Built: 1864
  • Builder: Ira Lafrinier & Company, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Dimensions: 217.50 ft x 37.48 ft x 19.58 ft (66.28 m x 11.42 m x 5.97 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 1,187.19 tons
  • Location: Lake Michigan, approx. 20 miles off Racine, Wisconsin
  • Coordinates: 42° 36.152′ N / 87° 31.603′ W
  • Depth: Greater than 60 m (200+ ft)
  • Date of Loss: October 14, 1872
  • Casualties: 8

Vessel Overview

The Lac La Belle was a 217-foot wooden single-screw steam propeller built in 1864 at Cleveland, Ohio. Originally constructed for passenger and package freight service, she was later converted to bulk cargo operations. The vessel featured twin stacks and a twin-cylinder high-pressure condensing steam engine built by Cuyahoga Steam Furnace Co.

Final Voyage & Loss

On October 14, 1872, the vessel departed Milwaukee bound for Grand Haven with 53 persons aboard and a cargo including 19,000 bushels of barley, flour, pork, whiskey, and feed. After developing a serious leak during a gale, heavy seas extinguished the boiler fires, leaving her powerless. Lifeboats were launched before she foundered stern-first. One lifeboat capsized, resulting in eight fatalities.

Discovery

The wreck was located in 2024 by Illinois shipwreck hunter and diver Paul Ehorn using Klein side-scan sonar, assisted by Bruce Bittner. Historical research by maritime historian Ross Richardson significantly narrowed the search area. Technical divers later confirmed the wreck identity.

The vessel lies upright and remarkably intact in deep water. Portions of her wooden framing and cargo remain visible. A full 3D photogrammetry survey is planned to document the wreck’s condition.

Wreck Condition & Diving Notes

This is a deep offshore technical site exceeding 200 ft (60 m). Conditions on Lake Michigan can change rapidly and require advanced training, proper gas planning, and surface support.

This wreck is historically significant and protected under state and federal law. Artifact removal without proper permits is illegal. Shotline Diving supports strict no-touch documentation practices:

Leave only bubbles, take only memories. Remove only modern garbage where safe. Be the diver that makes a difference.