Our History
Photo Courtesy of Tri-Cities Historical Museum
by Wallace Ewing and David Seibold
Grand Haven is nestled in wooded dunes and surrounded by the waters of Lake Michigan, Spring Lake and the Grand River. Under the leadership of Rev. William Montague Ferry, the first settlers arrived from Mackinac Island November 2, 1834.
In recognition of the ports large, accommodating and safe harbor, Rix Robinson, fur trader and land holder platted and named the town April 15, 1835. In Grand Haven’s early years the lumber industry took advantage of the towering white pines that grew for miles around, providing lumber for Chicago, Milwaukee, and other port cities. During this period the mineral water spas in Spring Lake, Fruitport and Grand Haven spawned the area tourist industry that is still alive today.
By 1890 the large tracts of forest were gone and the area sawmills closed. The slack was taken up by the Grand Trunk car ferries, which began cross-lake service in 1903, making Grand Haven one of the busiest ports on Lake Michigan the next 30 years.
Grand Haven is nestled in wooded dunes and surrounded by the waters of Lake Michigan, Spring Lake and the Grand River. Under the leadership of Rev. William Montague Ferry, the first settlers arrived from Mackinac Island November 2, 1834.
In recognition of the ports large, accommodating and safe harbor, Rix Robinson, fur trader and land holder platted and named the town April 15, 1835. In Grand Haven’s early years the lumber industry took advantage of the towering white pines that grew for miles around, providing lumber for Chicago, Milwaukee, and other port cities. During this period the mineral water spas in Spring Lake, Fruitport and Grand Haven spawned the area tourist industry that is still alive today.
By 1890 the large tracts of forest were gone and the area sawmills closed. The slack was taken up by the Grand Trunk car ferries, which began cross-lake service in 1903, making Grand Haven one of the busiest ports on Lake Michigan the next 30 years.
