On August 10, 1679, the Griffin, built by Robert de La Salle and his Lieutenant Henri Tonti, became the first sailing ship to reach Michigan when it emerged from Lake Erie and entered the Detroit River. It disappeared a little over a month later somewhere in Lake Michigan.
Another illustration of the Griffin by Robert Thoms
Sources :
The Windsor Border Region: Canada’s Southernmost Frontier (A Collection of Documents), Ernest J. Lajeunesse, 1960. Tornoto: The Champlaign Society, 1960, p. XXXV. Alternate Description: The Publications of the Champlain Society, Ontario Series, vol. IV.
Detroit Historical Society Facebook Page
Also see John Flesher, “Team to excavate Griffin, Lake Michigan shipwreck”, Detroit News, June 4, 2013.
John Flesher, “Expedition hopes to find La Salle’s long lost ship”, Detroit News, June 13, 2013.