ABSTRACT
In September of 1679, a crew of six Frenchmen set sail from an island near what is now Green Bay, Wisconsin in a crudely made vessel packed with 6,000 pounds of fur and other goods. The 40-to 60-foot sailboat was named The Griffin, and was built by the French explorer Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle near Niagara Falls. The Griffin is believed to be the first European trading ship to sail the waters of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Packed with its fur cargo and a six-man crew, The Griffin was caught in a violent storm and sank while sailing across northern Lake Michigan on its way back to Niagara.
