Harbor Beach in Huron County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Vicki Keith

Lake Huron Swim

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, December 20, 2022

1. Vicki Keith Marker

Inscription.

At 7 A.M. Sunday, July 17, 1988, 27 year old Vicki Keith departed from Harbor Beach on an epic swim across Lake Huron. Vicki swam on through July 17, July 18, and onward into the early hours of Tuesday, July 19th. She arrived on the sand beach adjacent to the harbor at the port of Goderich, Ontario to a cheering crowd of 400 at 5:55 A.M. after swimming for almost two days, Vicki completed the swim by using her trademark butterfly stroke for the last half mile from the outer breakwall to the beach. After being blown off course for a time Vicki swam a total of 48 miles over a period of 46 hours and 55 minutes.

The citizens of Harbor Beach dedicate this plaque to "a great Canadian", Vicki Keith, in commemoration of the first swim across Lake Huron.

Erected 1990 by Citizens of Harbor Beach.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Sports • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is July 17, 1988.

Location. 43° 50.479′ N, 82° 38.84′ W. Marker is in Harbor Beach, Michigan, in Huron County. It is on Trescott Street near Resort Road, in the median. The marker is at the pier of Judge James H. Lincoln Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Trescott Street, Harbor Beach MI 48441, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Michigan’s Thumb

and in one of the Lake Huron 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

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Harbor Beach Harbor of Refuge (here, next to this marker); Judge James H. Lincoln (within shouting distance of this marker); Harbor Beach Lighthouse (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Shipwrecks of the Harbor Beach Area (about 400 feet away); The Great Storm of 1913 (about 500 feet away); PFC Brian "Doc" Backus (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sergeant Aaron Cutler Elandt (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lieutenant Colonel Bruce G. Johnson (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harbor Beach.

Also see . . . Vicki Keith. Swimming Achievments:
First crossing of all five Great Lakes (completed in a two-month period)
First double crossing of Lake Ontario
First butterfly swim across the English Channel
Longest solo swim (distance) 94 kilometres (58 mi)
Longest solo swim (time) 63 hours 40 minutes
129 hours, 45 minutes continuous swimming (pool record)
Greatest distance, butterfly (male or female) 80.2 kilometres (49.8 mi)
Most crossings of Lake Ontario (six) (Submitted on January 6, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Additional commentary.
1. Great Lakes
Vicki Keith swam across all 5 Great Lakes during the

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, December 20, 2022

2. Vicki Keith Marker

summer of 1988. Perhaps more impressive she once did 129 hours, 45 minutes continuous swimming in a pool.

— Submitted January 6, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.

Trescott Street Pier and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 22, 2023

3. Trescott Street Pier and Marker

This bronze tablet is on the pylon on the right. The smaller tablet on the left reads, “Trescott Street Pier. City Council: Mayor – David Hunter • Leonard Defrain • Jack Schelke • Oscar Ingles •'Joseph Capling. Engineer: K. Don Williamson & Associates, Harbor Beach, Michigan. Contractors: Dan’s Excavating, Inc., Utica, Michigan. 1993.”

Photographed by Wendyerobertson, 2019

4. Vicki Keith

By Wendyerobertson - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107919880

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 322 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 6, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 3. submitted on November 3, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on January 6, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.