History of the Grand Haven Area

The former Grand Trunk Railway on the waterfront near the river is now a historical museum. The Story and Clark Piano Company built pianos in the city from 1900-1984. The smokestack at the piano factory collapsed in 1998 due to extremely severe weather. The oldest operating business in the city is the Eagle-Ottawa Leather Co. which traces its origin back to the Sheldon Tannery founded in 1838. In August of 2006, Eagle-Ottawa announced it would close all Grand Haven operations in October.

The Grand Haven Lighthouses were first built in 1839 on the south pier marking the channel into the river. The current lighthouses, painted red, were built in 1875 (outer light) and 1905 (inner). They are connected by a lighted catwalk which runs along the pier to the shore.