Glen Haven, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Glen Haven, Michigan
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Looking north on the former M-209
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 Glen Haven, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| County |  Leelanau |
| Township | Glen Arbor |
| Part of | Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore |
| Settled | 1857 (Sleeping Bearville) |
| Government | |
| • Type | National Park Service |
| Elevation | 598 ft (182 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49630
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| Area code(s) | 231 |
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Glen Haven Village Historic District
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| Area | 16 acres (6.5 ha) |
| Built | 1857 |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000882 |
| Added to NRHP | June 24, 1983 |
Glen Haven is a historic village located right on the shore of Lake Michigan. It's part of the amazing Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. This special place was once a busy port. Today, you can visit its restored buildings, like a General Store and a Blacksmith Shop. It's a great spot to learn about life long ago!
Contents
Discovering Glen Haven's Past
Glen Haven started as a busy port village on Sleeping Bear Bay. It was a vital stop for ships traveling on Lake Michigan. These ships needed firewood, lumber, and other important supplies.
How Glen Haven Began
In 1857, a settlement called Sleeping Bearville was founded by C. C. McCarty. He built a sawmill and an inn right on the beach. This was the very beginning of what would become Glen Haven. By 1881, the small community had grown to include 11 buildings.
The Lumber and Shipping Era
As time passed, the forests near the shore became smaller. This meant it was harder to find firewood for the steamships. In 1911, a man named David H. Day came to Glen Haven. His job was to make sure steamships always had enough wood for their engines.
He set up a lumber mill near a pond. Trees were cut down from around the inland lakes. Then, they were floated to the sawmill to be processed into lumber. A special narrow-gauge steam train carried the wood products to the Glen Haven port. The train tracks ended on a long dock. From there, the wood was loaded directly onto ships. You can still see the old dock poles in the water today!
Becoming a National Park Site
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was created by the U.S. Congress in 1970. Over time, the National Park Service bought private lands within the park's planned area. This helped protect the natural beauty and history of places like Glen Haven.
What You Can Explore Today
Glen Haven is now a fantastic place to visit and learn. Many of its historic buildings have been carefully restored. They show what life was like in a busy port village.
The Cannery Boathouse Museum
One interesting building is the former Glen Haven Canning Co. It was first a warehouse and later a factory for canning cherries in the 1920s. Today, it's the Cannery Boathouse Museum. Inside, you'll find old wooden boats. These boats were used to travel across the Manitou Passage. This is the water between Glen Haven and the North and South Manitou Islands.
The Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum
If you head west along the waterfront, you'll find the former U.S. Coast Guard Life Saving Station. This building is now the Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum. It teaches visitors about the brave people of the U.S. Life-Saving Service and the U.S. Coast Guard. You can also learn about the history of shipping on the Great Lakes.
In the summer, you might even see demonstrations of old rescue drills! They show how rescuers used to fire a line from shore to a ship in trouble. The Coast Guard station was built in 1901. It moved to its current spot in 1931 and closed in 1941.
The Shortest Highway
You might hear people talk about the "former M-209". This was once the shortest state highway in Michigan! It connected M-109 to Sleeping Bear Dunes Road. While it's no longer a state highway, many still use its old name.
About Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Glen Haven is a part of the amazing Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This national park stretches for about 35 miles (56 kilometers) along the eastern coast of Lake Michigan. It also includes North and South Manitou Islands.
The park is famous for its incredible natural features. These include beautiful forests, sandy beaches, huge sand dunes, and unique landforms left behind by ancient glaciers. The Lakeshore also protects many historic sites. These include the 1871 South Manitou Island Lighthouse, old Life-Saving Service and Coast Guard Stations, and historic farm areas.
Images for kids
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The D.H. Day General store in Glen Haven
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Looking north toward Glen Haven along Glen Haven Road (former M-209)
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Inside the Cannery Boathouse Museum
