GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Legendary mysteries and iconic tales, there is much to discover in the Great Lakes -- which is why it's no surprised that the Discovery Channel show "Expedition Unknown" found its way to Michigan.
Archaeologist Josh Gates was in South Haven to meet up with Valerie van Heest of the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association (MSRA).
van Heest is a Holland, Mich. author who wrote the book, "Fatal Crossing" about the MSRA's efforts to locate the remains of a Northwest Airlines DC-4 that crashed in Lake Michigan on June 24, 1950. At the time, it was the worst aviation disaster in U.S. history.
The renewed search for the wreckage and filming for the show took place August 2019, van Heest said Friday.
The episode of "Expedition Unknown" featuring Michigan connections airs on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 9 p.m. van Heest is featured in the episode as well as the "After the Hunt" segment afterwards.
“Josh was fascinated to learn that 70 years after the accident, the wreckage still had not been found,” said van Heest, “and that the story was not well known. Gates, van Heest, and the MSRA team set out to continue the hunt using state of the art equipment.
Divulge even deeper into the research and the episode at the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association's 22nd annual Mysteries and Histories: Beneath the Inland Seas shipwreck show on March 21, 2020. There will be never-before-seen video and images from the "Expedition Unknown" episode.
The show will also feature highlights from "Eastland: Chicago's Deadliest Day" and the documentary producer, Harvey Moshman will be in attendance. John Janzen returns to share footage of three steamships previously found by MSRA and he will be joined by first-time wreck finder Bernie Hellstrom to tell the story of the schooners Peshtigo and St. Andrews that collided and sank in 1878.
The show supports MSRA's exploration, documentation and interpretation of Lake Michigan shipwrecks. It's taking place at the Knickerbocker Theatre in Holland. Tickets can be purchased here.
Find even more information about MSRA, their research, discoveries and the shipwreck show at www.MichiganShipwrecks.org.
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