The Search for the Westmoreland

On December 7, 1854, the Propeller Westmoreland foundered in deep water near Sleeping Bear Dune, killing seventeen of her crew and passengers. Seventeen crew and passengers lived, however, and landed in lifeboats on the shore of Platte Bay. Soon after the passenger steamer's sinking, rumors began circulating of $10,000 in gold coins in her safe and 280 barrels of whiskey in her hold. For the next 150 years the Westmoreland was one of the most sought after shipwrecks in all the Great Lakes, eluding salvagers, wreckhunters and divers alike. The Westmoreland was discovered July 7, 2010 by diver/historian Ross Richardson of Lake Ann, Michigan.

An authentic look at treasure hunting and shipwreck diving.