Summer Island facts for kids
 Summer Island
Location in Michigan
Summer Island
Location in the United States
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Michigan |
| Coordinates | 45°33′48″N 86°38′11″W / 45.56333°N 86.63639°W |
| Highest elevation | 689 ft (210 m) |
| Administration | |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Delta County |
| Township | Fairbanks Township |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Summer Island is an island located in Lake Michigan. It is about 2.5 miles (4 km) from the southern tip of the Garden Peninsula in Michigan, a state in the United States. You can easily see the island from Fairport. This town is at the end of Delta County Road 483. However, Summer Island is not open to the public.
The island is part of a group of islands called the Niagara Escarpment archipelago. This group is found in the northwestern part of Lake Michigan. Summer Island's highest point is 710 feet (217 m) above sea level. This is 129 feet (40 m) higher than the lake's surface. A notable part of its shoreline is Gravel Point. This northern tip stretches out towards the Garden Peninsula mainland. The state of Michigan owns more than half of the island. It is managed as part of the Lake Superior State Forest.
Summer Island's Past
On the northeast side of Summer Island, two shallow areas create Summer Harbor. This harbor was once a small safe place for boats. It was also the site of an old settlement. Right next to Summer Harbor is an important archeological site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Summer Island Site.
Life in Ancient Times
Archeologists have found pottery at the Summer Island Site. This pottery suggests that people lived on the island a very long time ago. They may have been there during the Middle Woodland period. This time was roughly between 1 CE and 500 CE.
Island Life in the 1800s
In the 1800s, Summer Harbor was a busy fishing spot. People came here to catch lake trout and whitefish. It was also home to a small group of loggers. These loggers cut down trees on the island. By the early 1900s, Summer Harbor was empty again.
Discovering History
From 1968 to 1970, archeologists dug up the settlement site. They studied the remains of both Native American and European-American life there.
