"When we had it looked at, they [the archaeologists] could tell that the nail was very old," Dykstra said. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Le_Griffon&oldid=1121719205, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2020, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from January 2015, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from August 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Disappeared on the return trip of her maiden voyage in 1679, This page was last edited on 13 November 2022, at 19:58. Join the discussion, Playing Nov. 3-10: East Lansing Film Festivals silver anniversary. Heres how it works. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, A bowsprit discovered a few miles away in 2001 is another part of the vessel, they claim. [8], Meanwhile, La Salle and Henri de Tonti, had departed Fort Frontenac in a second vessel some days after La Motte and Hennepin. While there have been many theories over the years, there is no clear consensus as to the fate or current location of Le Griffon. "[7] None of these sources ascribe a name to any of these vessels. [6] Some of La Salle's associates called this vessel a brigantine; others called it a bark. The Griffin shipwreck at the bottom of Lake Michigan. University Hospitals receives $10 million donation from Ahuja family to support community health center, reach underserved populations, Rousing The Choir of Man makes it a memorable reopening night at Playhouse Square, RTA receives no workable proposals for new railcars, will start search over, Paddleboards and kayaks suddenly in high demand amid supply chain shortage, Cleveland resident accused of starting fire at REBol during downtown riots May 30. He noted that the wreck is near the western Michigan coast, not near Beaver Island, the area mentioned in La Salle's journal. 'But we can systematically search the bottom using non-intrusive techniques and remote sensing devices for conclusive diagnostic evidence. Le Griffon. The Griffon has not been found, Wayne Lusardi, the state archaeologist in the Department of Natural Resources, says bluntly. [4], Le Griffon may or may not be considered the first ship on the Great Lakes, depending on what factors one deems necessary to qualify a vessel for that designation. There is reason, however, to question his assertion. The entire 29-member crew went down with it in what has become the greatest Great Lakes Shipping Tragedy of all time. While some of these were made from a single carved log ("dugout" or "pirogue"), most were bark canoes. A bowsprit is the spar that extends forward from the bow. Revealed: The top 10 fastest-growing destinations for UK pensioners retiring overseas. [4] While work continued on Le Griffon in the spring of 1679 as soon as the ice began to break up along the shores of Lake Erie, La Salle sent out men from Fort Frontenac in 15 canoes laden with supplies and merchandise to trade with the Illinois for furs at the trading posts of the upper Huron and Michigan Lakes. Mr Libert has also highlighted several details in the wreckage indicative of contemporaneous French design. It would be awesome if true, she says, a story shed love the museum to be able to tell visitors, with the aura of amateur treasure-hunting and Indiana Jones. Where to Find the Griffon Vulture. Comment why voting matters to you at the end of this story. [4] They entered Lake St. Clair on 12 August, the feast day of Saint Clare of Assisi, and named the lake after her. Shipwreck explorers, Jim Kennard and Roger Pawlowski located the shipwreck utilizing a high resolution Rochester, New York The battered remains of the Canadian schooner Ocean Wave, which capsized and eventually sank from a sudden and violent squall, has been found in the depths of Lake Ontario. That is simply not true.. Updated. The Native Americans told La Salle the crew planned to sail toward the Straits of Mackinac in stormy weather. "The Great Lakes are a time capsule, the fresh water preserves the ship wreck," Porter said. They recovered the anchors, chain, and most of the materials critical for Le Griffon, but most of the supplies and provisions were lost. In 2011, Michigan-based treasure hunters Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe found a shipwreck as they were searching for the $2 million in gold that, according to local legend, fell from a ferry. But, the Liberts say her final. A Eurasian griffon vulture can be found throughout Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Iran among other areas. It would be busted up, she said. 2 is a much sought after shipwreck. A ship in shallow water gets beat up quickly. But the sinking was caused by a storm is the best explanation. There is an excellent book written by Cris Kohl on the Griffon and the various discovery claims. But the explorer ran out of money, so he disembarked with the other expedition leaders, leaving the ship and its crew to pay off his debts with furs. Somewhere near present-day Toronto they were frozen in and had to chop their way out of the ice. (Image credit: Father Louis Hennepin Public Domain ). Lake Erie covers 2,000 of them, among the highest concentration of wrecks in the world. Unexpectedly, a nail attached itself to the magnet, and the treasure hunters only discovered it later, once they were above water. Police raid online sensation shop Wakey Wines looking for drugs as owner famous for his Prime Not so shipshape! Then they also talk with real people the individual citizens and businesses in communities to get their reactions to whats happening in Lansing. [4] They were navigating Le Griffon through uncharted waters that only canoes had previously explored. The first full-size cargo ship to sail the inner Great Lakes, Le Griffon was built by explorer Robert de La Salle in 1679. [12] A number of sunken old sailing ships have been suggested to be Le Griffon but, except for the ones proven to be other ships, there has been no positive identification. [8], Progress on Le Griffon was fraught with problems. Most of the ship remnants were in shallow, not deep water makes the other claims inaccurate. The comments below have not been moderated. LeGriffon launched on Aug. 7, 1679, with LaSalle, Father Louis Hennepin and a crew of 32. MICHIGAN -- Le Griffon, a well known ship that sunk in Lake Michigan during the 17th century, has been hiding at the depths of the lake for more than 300 years. Le Griffon Shipwreck. All Rights Reserved. From the web site of Libert's company: "There were plenty of theories of what happened to the flagship. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The ship was a work of art, featuring a majestic griffin (half lion, half eagle) figurehead on its front and an eagle on its stern. It just sparked my interest and I started researching more and more. But, the Liberts say her final resting place is near the Huron Islands in Lake Michigan, northeast of Green Bay. That would also put their forward progress on 8 January, at about 20 miles (32km) from Niagara. The Griffon was the first ship ever to sail the Great Lakes, originally built to haul furs from the Green Bay area to Detroit. Metiomek, an Iroquois prophet, apparently told La Salle: 'Beware! Now, more than 335 years later, the wreck of the Griffon has not definitively been found. The mythical griffin is a creature of ferocity and nobility. Every one of these shipwreck hunters finds a bone pile and claims its the Griffon.. [21], There has yet to be any consensus regarding the location of the shipwreck of Le Griffon. It was built by the French explorer Ren Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, with a view to finding a route through the lakes to China and Japan. Le Griffon - meaning 'The Griffin' - vanished during its maiden voyage in 1679 in one of the oldest and most notorious maritime mysteries in US history. [1][4], The site La Salle had selected for building Le Griffon has conclusively been identified as at or near the mouth of Cayuga Creek, at Cayuga Island. On its way back to Niagarafrom Green Bay, the Griffon disappeared with its entire crew and valuable cargo of furs commencing the centuries-long quest to discover its fate. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Tests on the ship part are dated to 1679; close to a year, dating of the wreck is 1632 to 1982. The ship was righted and brought back to the port in Milwaukee and returned to service. A ship in shallow water gets beat up quickly. The cargo of furs, estimated at up to $12,000 in value nearly $900,000 (640,000) in today's money likely went to the depths with her. Possibly a cannon, hopefully with the date stamped on it.'. Test yourself with this Cockney Rhyming Slang quiz. The Griffin, which disappeared on its maiden voyage in 1679, has been called the 'holy grail' for shipwreck hunters probing North America's Great Lakes. also was the first ship to sail the Great Lakes. La Salle returned to the area in 1682, to try again to locate the Mississippi's mouth. Certainly not not without a lot more information but these are very compelling. In the Great Lakes region, there may be no older and more intriguing historical mystery than the 1679 disappearance of the Griffon, one of French explorer Robert La Salles ships. She was found by an aircraft belonging to the US Navy on 14th November 1975. Or the Jesuits had something to do with the disappearance. Like Le Griffon, the steamship Marquette and Bessemer No. The Liberts' book, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1679: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery, is available via Amazon for 24.69. Until there is an expedition (to the site) with politically unaligned professionals, I will not weigh in one way or another, said Vrana, whose nonprofit group has consulted with Libert. This Virtual History Talk will feature Valerie van Heest, who's a Michigan historian, underwater explorer, and author, talking about the facts and legends surrounding the Le Griffon shipwreck . "It's a mystery ship that got in our way," Dykstra said, "and now, we're going for the gold.". Their inefficiency at beating to windward made them impractical as sailing vessels, and they were not very safe in open water. Keen to get away from the neighbours? These social birds live in vulture colonies. Rather, it may be the remnants of a tugboat that was scrapped after "steam engines became more economical to operate," said Brendon Baillod, a Great Lakes historian who has written scholarly papers on the Griffin. Newsroom Calendar There is no conclusive evidence about any of the theories about Le Griffon's loss.[1]. Michigan state maritime archaeologist Wayne R. Lusardi presented evidence that the wreck was, in fact, a tugboat due to its 90-foot (27m) length and presence of a steam boiler. Mobile Reporting Kit Acknowledging that French archeologists side with Libert, she asks what they know about Native American fishing practices. Below Niagara Falls: first ships on Lake Ontario. When a strong wind suddenly arose, they could not make it back to the ship. The griffin is a legendary creature with the head and wings of an eagle, and the body, tail, and hind legs of a lion. [8], La Salle's men first had to build their lodging and then guard against the Iroquois who were hostile to this invasion of their ancient homeland. Their sonar caught a mass below, and Dykstra dove into the water to take video. A bowsprit is the spar that extends forward from the bow. Steve Libert diving on the ship in 2018. Having lost needed supplies, La Salle left the building of Le Griffon under Tonti's care, and set out on foot to return to Fort Frontenac. [4] La Salle left Italian officer Henri de Tonti and Father Hennepin in charge while he journeyed to Fort Frontenac to secure replacements for lost supplies. Kids Encyclopedia Facts. [1] They reached the mouth of the Detroit River on 10 August 1679 where they were greeted by three columns of smoke signaling the location of Tonti's camp whom they received on board. Around 4:00pm the Shannon passed Oswego light and headed out into the lake. Those left behind proceeded with needed building projects. Native tradition holds that The Griffin became a ghost ship, whose crew are sometimes heard chanting as she sails among the clouds on a moonlit night. But Dykstra and Monroe said they'll wait until they hear the final word. Its discovery is credited to wreck hunters Stevie and Kathie Libert for the record. JRN@MSU Code of Ethics To skeptics who doubt Liberts identification of the wreckage, he responds, The clues are there., Van Heest says the books account of the expedition from the Niagara River to Lake Michigan has the facts down, but once we get to the story of the supposed bowsprit it all falls apart because its not a bowsprit.. 'It is just a matter of time before we achieve our goal. Carbon dating of the bowsprit places suggests an age range within a year of the sinking. [citation needed], In July 1679, La Salle directed 12 men to tow Le Griffon through the rapids of the Niagara River with long lines stretched from the bank. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook& Google+. The wind did slightly decrease but they drifted slowly all night, unable to find anchorage or shelter. The traders had collected 12,000 pounds (5,400kg) of furs in anticipation of the arrival of Le Griffon. Green and Ken Vrana, the principal of Maritime Heritage Consulting, advocate an independent assessment by professionals. Wood can break up. [18] Steve and Kathie Libert have since published a book, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands - 1679: Our Story of Exploration and Discovery (Mission Point Press, 2021). Copyright 2023 HNGN. Maritime historians best guess, she says, is that it sank between Beaver Island and the southern coast of the Upper Peninsula, possibly within sight of shore between what are now Manistique and Naubinway. Alex Murdaugh Trial Ends with Guilty Verdict, Life in Prison Sentence; Ex-Lawyer's Court Exit Caught on Video, Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Diplomat Claims Ukraine War Was Launched Against Us, Sparks Laughter from Crowd, G20 India Leadership Says PM Modi's Stance on Ukraine Is Valid Despite Dissent, Cindy McCain Appointed as New Head of UN World Food Program, Promises To Address Global Humanitarian Needs, PLA Air Force J-11 Fighter Intercepts US Patrol Aircraft in the South China Monitoring Chinese Military, Japan Facing Major Population Headache as Birth Rate Plummets Again. The divers said they found Le Griffon in 2011, but are just announcing the discovery because they were consulting experts to confirm it. So, if the Griffons final resting place isnt where Libert believes it to be, where is it?