On Lakeshore Dr. at Water Works Street, on the left when traveling west on Lakeshore Dr..
Bluffton Actors' Colony
In 1908, Joe Keaton, actor Paul Lucier, and agent Lew Earl founded the Actors' Colony. By 1911 over two hundred theater personalities flocked to Bluffton each summer. They included Keaton, his wife, Myra and his son . . . — — Map (db m114476) HM
Near Beach Street Road west of Beach Street, on the right when traveling south.
One quarter mile from this marker is constructed the first underwater fishing reef of its kind in the Great Lakes built entirely of quarried dolomite barged from Wisconsin. This reef is dedicated to public fishing in Michigan. — — Map (db m119656) HM
On the North Causeway Street southbound ramp (Michigan Route 120) at Business U.S. 31, on the right when traveling south on the North Causeway Street southbound ramp.
Muskegon was the largest center
of lumbering on lower Michigan’s
west coast. From the 1850’s to the
1890’s an immense amount of timber
was floated to this port down the
Muskegon River and its tributaries.
In 1864 the Muskegon Booming Co.
was . . . — — Map (db m229707) HM
On the North Causeway Street southbound ramp (Michigan Route 120) at Business U.S. 31, on the right when traveling south on the North Causeway Street southbound ramp.
The Muskegon River Watershed is one of Michigan’s largest at over 2,700 square miles
in size. The River is the second longest in Michigan with its headwaters in the
Higgins/Houghton Lakes area in Roscommon County.
The South Branch of the . . . — — Map (db m241606) HM
On Peck Street at East Laketon Avenue, on the left when traveling south on Peck Street.
Marsh Field began its tenure as the
principal home of Muskegon baseball
when it was completed in 1916.
Charles W. Marsh—a Muskegon civic
leader, industrialist, and sports
enthusiast—spearheaded construction
of the park, which he donated to . . . — — Map (db m229818) HM
On West Western Avenue west of 3rd Street, on the right when traveling east.
Renowned actor and filmmaker, who called Muskegon home. Best known for his silent film comedies and dead-pan delivery, Keaton’s long career began in Vaudeville at three years old and included television, Broadway and modern film.
. . . — — Map (db m119651) HM
On West Webster Avenue, 0.1 miles west of 2nd Street, on the right when traveling east.
In 1859, Muskegon Methodists built their first church at Clay and Jefferson streets. Congregationalists met in the church, which also served as the county court. In 1887 a larger church was built on the same site. The present Neo-Gothic-style . . . — — Map (db m154387) HM
On West Webster Avenue at Sixth Street, on the right when traveling west on West Webster Avenue.
This three-story wood frame building is one of Michigan’s most splendid examples of Queen Anne architecture.
With juxtaposition of masses created by roof lines, chimneys, tower and porte-cochere it has become a symbol of Muskegon.
Fifteen . . . — — Map (db m107242) HM
On West Webster Avenue east of 3rd Street, on the right when traveling west.
On May 25, 1888, Muskegon lumber baron Charles H. Hackley announced that he would donate a library to the city. Hackley stipulated that the facility be "forever maintained as a library." Patton and Fisher of Chicago, one of the six firms invited to . . . — — Map (db m154384) HM
On West Clay Avenue at 6th Street, on the right when traveling east on West Clay Avenue.
Obverse
In 1850 Joseph Hackley came to Michigan from Wisconsin to serve as superintendent of construction for the Durkee, Truesdell and Company sawmill. In 1860 he purchased this house, built in 1857. Hackley and his first wife, Salina . . . — — Map (db m154389) HM
On West Webster Avenue, 0.1 miles east of Sixth Street, on the right when traveling west.
Built in 1887–1889, this massive Queen Anne style house served the Thomas Hume family through four generations. This architect for this, as well as the Hackley house, was David S. Hopkins of Grand Rapids. The structure behind the two buildings . . . — — Map (db m107251) HM
On West Webster Avenue at 2nd Street, on the right when traveling west on West Webster Avenue.
The Muskegon Woman's Club was founded in 1890, and dedicated to the intellectual "improvement and development" of women. The Chicago firm of Weir and Perry designed this neo classical structure, built in 1902 with funds donated by Minnie Smith, the . . . — — Map (db m241639) HM
On Morris Avenue west of First Street, on the right when traveling west.
This cemetery was already established when
the first white man came to the area. It is
believed to have been used by the Ottawas
as early as 1750 and is known to have been
a burial ground from 1806 to 1854 for both
Indians and settlers. The . . . — — Map (db m241640) HM
On 3rd Street, 0.1 miles south of West Webster Avenue, on the right when traveling north.
This thirty-one room mansion, built for $250,000 in 1891-92, was the home of John Torrent (1833-1915), pioneering lumberman, alderman, justice of the peace and Muskegon mayor for three terms. A successful entrepreneur, Torrent owned shingle, saw . . . — — Map (db m241642) HM
On West Western Avenue (U.S. 31) 0.1 miles north of Seventh Street, on the right when traveling north.
The Union Depot opened in 1895 to serve the Chicago & West Michigan Railway; the Muskegon, Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad; and the Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon Railroad.
A.W. Rush and Son of Grand Rapids designed the Richardson Romanesque . . . — — Map (db m107240) HM
On Lakeshore Drive at Addison Street, on the left when traveling west on Lakeshore Drive.
The village of Lakeside grew up around the A. V. Mann and Company sawmill, which operated from 1868 to 1889. In 1888 Lakeside was annexed to Muskegon. That year fire ravaged the business district. Despite the fire, Lakeside continued to boom as a . . . — — Map (db m114477) HM
On West Laketon Avenue at Lakeshore Drive, on the left when traveling west on West Laketon Avenue.
Side 1
Some of Muskegon’s earliest lumber mills were located in Pinchtown. In 1842, Joseph Stronach built a sawmill west of here on Muskegon Lake at Ruddiman’s Creek. In 1844, George and John Ruddiman purchased the mill. In 1848 the mill . . . — — Map (db m176207) HM
On Ruddiman Drive at Bear Lake Road, on the right when traveling east on Ruddiman Drive.
Near this site, on the shore of Muskegon Lake, stood the first Indian fur trading post in Muskegon County. It was established in 1812 by Jean Baptiste Recollect, a French fur trader believed to be this area's first white settler. Jean Recollect . . . — — Map (db m84587) HM
On Thompson Street (Business U.S. 31) 0.1 miles north of West Hanson Street, on the right when traveling north.
side 1 – Lumbering on White Lake
Charles Mears built White Lake’s first sawmill in 1838. Four mills operated on White River tributaries during the next decade. Axmen, swampers, skidders, loaders, and haulers cut and moved pine, . . . — — Map (db m119663) HM
On South Shore Drive, 0.3 miles east of North Scenic Drive, on the left when traveling east.
side 1
By 1897 most of White Lake’s bustling sawmills had given way to cottages and small hotels. Promoters advertised the area’s cool temperatures as relief from the summer heat of cities and drew thousands of people to the area, many . . . — — Map (db m119659) HM
