In 1679, The Griffin—or Le Griffon—set sail into the uncharted waters of the Great Lakes, a bold creation of French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. Built near Niagara Falls, this 45-ton barque was the first European ship to navigate these wild waters, destined to expand the fur trade and explore the western frontier.

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With a crew of thirty, The Griffin journeyed across Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and Lake St. Clair, pressing into Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. After delivering cargo near present-day Green Bay, it set out for home, laden with furs—and vanished, likely claimed by a Great Lakes storm. Its wreck has never been found, cementing its place as one of maritime history’s greatest mysteries.

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The legacy of The Griffin lives on as a story of ambition, adventure, and the enduring mystery of the unknown.