La Salle Odyssey

Two cannons found in Texas fifty miles apart: one buried in the mud twelve feet below the surface of Matagorda Bay, the other uncovered by a ranch foreman. Together, they solved a centuries-old mystery and set archeologists on a fascinating journey that continues to this day.

Pictured: Finding a cannon during excavation of La Belle.

Experience History in Person

On this tour you'll follow in the footsteps of modern explorers—archeologists—as they track through time one of North America's most famous explorers. It's an extraordinary story of international intrigue, murder, and adventure. Pieced together, the recovered artifacts tell the story of an ambitious attempt by France to colonize Texas. Their re-discovery changed what we know of our history.

Watch the Tour Introduction

Learn More

Dive a little deeper into the archeological research of the La Belle shipwreck through these short narrated videos that explore what was found and how it changed the story.

Watch Videos

Navigate to Sites

Looking for a La Salle Odyssey site near you? Navigate your journey using a tour map, or browse a list of sites by region.

Browse Locations

Roll the Credits

Find out how this tour was developed and who had a role in its creation.