South Haven in Van Buren County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Commercial Shipping
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2017
1. Commercial Shipping Marker
South Haven emerged as a commercial shipping center in the 1850s. By the late nineteenth century, lumber, fruit, and other manufactured goods were transported between South Haven, Chicago, and other cities on steam vessels. Commercial shipping peaked in South Haven during the 1930s. In 1932 alone, 56 ships delivered 64,000 net tons of clay and wood pulp to South Haven. During the 1960s, commercial shipping largely ended in South Haven as goods were increasingly shipped via highways.
Erected by South Haven Municipal Marina & Michigan Maritime Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 42° 24.184′ N, 86° 16.628′ W. Marker is in South Haven, Michigan, in Van Buren County. It is on Water Street 0.1 miles west of Kalamazoo Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located beside the sidewalk, overlooking the South Haven Municipal Marina. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: South Haven MI 49090, United States of
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Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Michigan and specifically in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Downtown's Rich History (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Entertainment Around the Harbor (about 500 feet away); Shipbuilding (about 700 feet away); Algonquin Legends of South Haven (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lumber Industry (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Peach of a Man (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Farming Heritage (approx. 0.2 miles away); Captains of Industry (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in South Haven.
More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted horizontally on waist-high posts. Marker is part of South Haven's Harbor Walk series.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are
2. Marker detail: Moving Cargo by Sail
Sailing vessels such as schooners transported lumber and other goods to and from South Haven. During the early twentieth century, schooners and other sailing vessels were gradually replaced by more efficient steamboats.
Also see . . . South Haven Harbor Walk. This South Haven Harbor Walk map shows the location of this and other historical markers in South Haven. (Submitted on June 25, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Marker detail: South Haven Terminal Company
The South Haven Terminal Company docks and warehouses were located along the Black River from the 1920s to the 1960s. During this time, more than 900 ships from Europe and Canada brought wood pulp and clay for the Kalamazoo paper pulls. Domestic ships delivered stone, gravel, coal, and pig iron for local industries
4. Marker detail: Plying the Chicago Trade
The South Haven-based Myrtie M Ross was one of several vessels that offered steamboat service to Chicago.
5. Marker detail: Working the Docks
Stevedores were once a common sight on South Haven's docks. Paper pulp was unloaded from foreign freighters for rail shipment to mills in Kalamazoo. c. 1940
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2017
6. Commercial Shipping Marker (wide view; overlooking South Haven Municipal Marina)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 367 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 25, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
