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Ontonagon Harbor Piers Historic District facts for kids

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Ontonagon Harbor Piers Historic District
Ontonagon Harbor.jpg
Location Ontonagon R. at Lake Superior, Ontonagon, Michigan
Area 16 acres (6.5 ha)
Built 1868
Architect US Army Corps of Engineers
NRHP reference No. 01001313
Added to NRHP December 4, 2001

The Ontonagon Harbor Piers Historic District is a special place in Ontonagon, Michigan. It's where the Ontonagon River meets Lake Superior. This area has important old structures called piers. Piers are like long walls built into the water. They help guide boats and protect the harbor. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. This means it's a very important historical site.

Ontonagon pier diagram
A diagram showing the layout of the piers.

Building the Ontonagon Piers

The story of the Ontonagon piers began a long time ago. In 1860, a group called the Army Corps of Engineers started planning them. This group helps build and maintain waterways in the United States.

The first parts of the piers were built between 1868 and 1872. The inside part of the west pier was made first. It was built using wooden poles driven into the ground. These poles were then filled with rocks to make them strong.

Over the next 20 years, more sections were added. Workers built another 1,770 feet of the east pier. They also added 1,398 feet to the west pier. A special light was put on the end of the west pier. This light helped guide ships at night. During this time, parts of the east pier were also rebuilt. All these new sections were made from timber boxes filled with rocks.

Upgrades and Changes

The piers were updated again in the 1920s and 1930s. Stone was added over parts of both piers. A strong concrete top was also built on the inner part of the west pier.

Later, in 1947, the very end of the west pier was rebuilt. More improvements were made in 1983. These changes helped keep the piers strong and useful for many years.

What the Harbor Looks Like Today

The Ontonagon Harbor is an important place for boats. There is a shipping channel between the two piers. This channel is about 150 feet wide. It is also 15 to 17 feet deep. This depth allows many different boats to pass through safely.

The east pier is about 2,315 feet long. The west pier is a bit longer, at 2,563 feet. A wider path helps boats enter the harbor from the deep water of Lake Superior. This path is about 850 feet long. Inside the harbor, there is a calm area called the inner basin. It is 900 feet long and 12 feet deep.

The Ontonagon harbor is very important for small boats. It is the only safe place for them to stop. This safe spot is between the Keweenaw Waterway and Black River Harbor.

Harbor pier images
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