LaSalle's Griffon - Latest News and Developments

Last month, we ran a series of weblogs on legendary French explorer Rene-Robert Cavalier, Sieur de LaSalle's flagship Griffon, the first European vessel to sail the upper Great Lakes. The Griffon was intended to carry out lucrative fur-trading commerce which would support La Salle’s expedition in search of the mouth of the Mississippi.  Steve Libert has spent 28 years researching and studying the history of the Griffon and has publicly announce that he may have found the "Holy Grail" of the Great Lakes. Since 2001, Libert has worked to involve academic experts and government officials in taking steps to preserve this potentially unique find. With this goal in mind, Great Lakes Exploration was formed with the vision of finding and protecting this rare piece of North American history. Since that discovery Libert has worked steadily with the Field Museum, Chicago, IL, in conducting preliminary studies of the wreck in situ. Subsequently, Great Lakes Exploration Group filed an admiralty arrest in the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan in the summer of 2004. Great Lakes hopes for and is working toward a truly cooperative public/private venture that will protect the scientific and historical value of the shipwreck. It is Great Lakes Exploration Group's contention that since the explorer was doing the work of the French government in discovering the new world that it is bound by claiming the ship as France's property. There is plenty of precedence that would totally validate this claim which will cite the State of Texas dealing with France on another LaSalle ship named LaBelle. The State of  Michigan claims it was a vessel privately owned by LaSalle himself therefore a private vessel.  Because it sank and now rests within Michigan's nautical territory they claim it under the Abandoned Shipwreck Act of 1986. Steve and his group are working diligently with trying to obtain permits from Michigan to conduct an archaeological excavation.  The State of Michigan will not offer the permits unless Steve can positively prove its the "Griffon".  Since Steve cannot prove its the "Griffon" without the permits to excavate; this is creating a bureaucratic Catch-22.  Steve and Great Lakes can produce Carbon-14 tests and archaeological tests on what they believe to be the bow sprit.  After almost a year of failed negotiations with the State of Michigan, Great Lakes proceeded with legal action. Additionally, the U S Navy, the Smithsonian and Canada are involved with the findings from this shipwreck.

In order to engage the public on this potentially historic discovery, Great Lakes Exploration Group has created a LaSalle - Griffon Project website that will chronicle their ongoing exploration expedition.  This website was unveiled yesterday and I can honestly say that this site is one of the best shipwreck sites that I have ever seen. Great Lakes designed this web site to reach out to experts, academia, other explorers, and the public at large to further their mission of education. We have provided a permanent link on our blog for continuous following of the latest news and developments from this historic shipwreck expedition.

Comments

[Steve Libert]

Thanks David for your excellent commentary. I shall keep everyone informed as to the operations of the “Griffon” project. We do have a long and costly legal struggle in front of us.
I shall however keep all informed.

Thanks,

Steve Libert

[Richard Knack]

Personally, I think it's disgusting to think of giving ANYTHING to the French besides a swift kick in the rear. It's bad enough they got La Belle. The French government that funded La Salle's expeditions effectively ceased to exist with the French Revolution in the 1780's. Besides, La Griffon was built in America anyway. The froggies are some of the most arrogant and yet at the same time the most cowardly people in the world, as a general rule (first to pick a fight, and first to back out and leave someone else to pick up the mess - look at Vietnam). The buggers STILL think they don't owe us anything from WWII, and their actions following WWI - looting and oppressing the Germans - led to WWII in the first place. Not to mention their utter lack of support for us in the Middle East. The last thing they need is another undeserved feather in their collective cap.

[Mary Petersen]

Hi David,
Why don't you get a campaign going with elementary school kids? Perhaps they can collect pennies to support you in your effort. Kids have helped in the past. After all...you discovered it. Share your story with the future of America.

Mary Jane Petersen

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[Terry Smith]

During a recent trip to Manitoulin Island I visited the Mississagi Lighthouse. In a shed attached to the lighthouse are beams from a wooden ship with a sign on them saying "Beams from the Griffon 1679". There is a photo on Flikr of the beams. I don't know if the claim is credible but thought you might like to know if you didn't know already.
Terry Smith

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