ELUSIVE SHIPWRECK DISCOVERED ON BOTTOM OF LAKE MICHIGAN AFTER 139 YEARS. (PHOTO).

 Elusive shipwreck discovered on bottom of Lake Michigan after 139 years

After more than 130 years beneath Lake Michigan, the long-lost shipwreck of the F.J. King has finally been discovered, the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association announced. The 144-foot wooden vessel, which sank during a powerful storm in September 1886, was located near the Wisconsin-Michigan border using sonar and remotely operated vehicles.

The F.J. King had sailed for 19 years before breaking apart, with debris spotted by lighthouse keepers and fishermen in the days following the sinking. Photos released by researchers show the ship largely intact, more than 120 feet below the lake’s surface. Historians note the vessel was carrying iron at the time, a common cargo alongside grain, wood, and other products. The National Park Service estimates that around 6,000 ships were damaged or destroyed on the Great Lakes during the 1800s, many of which remain undiscovered. Researchers are now creating a 3D model of the F.J. King and hope to nominate it for the State and National Register of Historic Places, while initiatives like Lakebed 2030 continue mapping the lake floor to uncover more lost vessels.