What Lies Beneath Lake George

The surface of Lake George is busy with boats, swimmers, and fishermen. But 200 feet below, the lake holds a different kind of history — one of warships, steam yachts, and unsolved disappearances, preserved in cold, clear water for centuries.

Underwater archaeologist Joseph W. Zarzynski and archaeological diver Bob Benway have spent years exploring the lake’s bottomlands across more than two hundred known shipwreck sites. Their most compelling finds are gathered here: the legendary Land Tortoise radeau, a flat-bottomed warship that sank in 1758 during the French and Indian War and remains one of the best-preserved vessels of its kind in the world. The steam yacht Ellide. The original Minne-Ha-Ha. And the unexplained 1926 disappearance of two hunters, whose story the lake has kept secret ever since.

For anyone who has ever looked out at Lake George and wondered what’s down there — this is the book.

Book Details

• Authors: Joseph W. Zarzynski & Bob Benway
• 162 pages, hardcover
• Dimensions: 6 × 9 × 0.44 inches
• Publication date: April 2011
• ISBN: 9781540205759
• Ships free to all US addresses

Makes a Standout Gift

A natural pick for divers, history enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by what Lake George hides beneath its surface. Pairs well with The Battle of Lake George and other titles from our Lake George history collection.