Who owns all of the artifacts that were found on La Belle?
All La Belle artifacts are the property of France from the collection of the Musée National de la Marine. Courtesy of the Texas Historical Commission, Austin. This collander was among other 17th century items intended for use in the new colony.
What happened to all of La Salle’s ships?
In 1684, French King Louis XIV sent explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, across the ocean with four ships and 400 people to North America. Instead, in a series of remarkable circumstances, La Salle lost ships to pirates and disaster, sailed past his destination, and was murdered by his own men.
Where is La Salle’s last ship found today?
La Belle was wrecked in present-day Matagorda Bay the following year, dooming La Salle’s Texas colony to failure. The wreckage of La Belle lay forgotten until it was discovered by a team of state archaeologists in 1995….La Belle (ship)
| The hull remains of La Belle undergoing reconstruction | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| France | |
| Name | La Belle |
| Owner | Louis XIV |
Where is the La Belle ship now?
The ship instead sailed into Matagorda Bay, only to sink in 1686 where it was found 300 years later and underwent an extraordinary excavation and preservation beginning in 1995. La Belle now is at the center of the Museum’s first-floor exhibition La Belle: The Ship That Changed History.
Where is Matagorda Bay?
Texas Coast
Matagorda Bay is located on the Texas Coast at approximately 28.5 N and 96.5 W and is the third largest Texas estuarine system (1,013.68 square km).
What was Belle’s last expedition?
On a cold winter day in 1687, the small French ship Belle ran aground on the Texas coast, the victim of a run of bad luck and a howling north wind. The Belle was the last of four ships of the expedition led by Robert Cavelier, sieur de La Salle.
What happened to La Salle’s settlement at Matagorda Bay?
From October 1685 to January 1687 La Salle left the colony on three occasions to explore his surroundings. During his first long absence—a journey to the west—his one remaining ship, Belle, was wrecked in Matagorda Bay, leaving the colony marooned.
What items were found on the Belle when it was excavated?
Over several weeks, areas of unusual magnetism were detected and checked by divers. Small finds were brought to the surface: a belt buckle, bottle glass, rusted metal fragments. They probed one large anomaly, which appeared to be part of a wooden ship, buried in the mud.
What ships did Robert de La Salle use?
The first ship built by La Salle, called the Frontenac, a 10-ton single-decked brigantine or barque was lost in Lake Ontario, on January 8, 1679. Afterward, La Salle built Le Griffon, a seven-cannon, 45-ton barque, on the upper Niagara River at or near Cayuga Creek. She was launched on August 7, 1679.
Are there alligators in Matagorda Beach?
Other local creatures, great and small, include deer, porpoises, alligators, and mosquitoes (yes, bring some repellent). If birding is your passion then Matagorda will provide the ultimate birding experience.
Are there alligators in Matagorda Bay?
This is a great place to fish for Reds and Flounder and view wildlife. Be aware that this is prime Alligator habitat and there are lots of very large ones in this area.
How did they uncover La Belle?
With the waters of Matagorda Bay held back by massive steel cofferdam walls, archeologists uncover the wreck of La Belle from its tomb of muddy sediments. Photograph by Robert Clark. A floating magnetometer is pulled behind a boat through the waters of Matagorda Bay in an attempt to locate the shipwreck.