Editing Grand Haven, Michigan (section)

==History==
[[File:Birds eye view of the city of Grand Haven, Ottawa Co., Michigan 1868. LOC 73693426.jpg|thumb|left|[[Panoramic map]] of Grand View in 1868 with a list of landmarks]]
The [[Potawatomi]] and [[Ottawa (tribe)|Ottawa Native Americans]] lived in the area for centuries and used the river as a trade route into the interior of Michigan. Some of the long cultures of the Ottawa tribe is being revealed through the excavation of archeological artifacts.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

The city dates its European-American founding to French colonial settlers. A [[fur trading]] outpost called ''Gabagouache'' was first established by [[Madeline La Framboise#Fur trading|Madeline La Framboise]] and her husband Joseph.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

After the War of 1812, this area became more settled by Americans. A trading post was established here about 1821 by the [[American Fur Company]],<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Grand Haven|volume=12|page=349}}</ref> but the first permanent resident was a [[Presbyterian]] minister, [[William Montague Ferry]], who founded in 1834 the first area church. Settler [[Rix Robinson]] named the town "Grand Haven" in 1835.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rix Robinson Park |url=https://grandhaven.org/visitors/parks/rix-robinson-park/ |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=City of Grand Haven |language=en-US}}</ref> Sheldon Tannery was founded in 1838, developing to process leathers from the fur trade and cattle. The second church was organized in 1850. Ferry founded the city's first bank in 1851 in the Ferry & Son building on Harbor Drive. He also started a school, Ferry Elementary, which continues to operate. The city was incorporated in 1867.<ref name="Romig">{{cite book | last = Romig | first = Walter | year = 1986 | title = Michigan Place Names | orig-year= 1973 | publisher = [[Wayne State University Press]] | location = Detroit, Michigan | isbn = 0-8143-1838-X}}</ref>

In the mid-to-late 19th century, Grand Haven developed as a logging, lumber mill, and shipping town, as well as a shipbuilding center.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grand Haven History |url=http://michiganhistory.leadr.msu.edu/grand-haven-history/ |website=Michigan History |access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref>

The city was served by the [[Grand Trunk Railway]], which ran along the waterfront near the river. Its depot and offices have been adapted for use as a historical museum. The ''Story and Clark Piano Company'' built pianos in the city from 1900 to 1984. The smokestack at the piano factory collapsed during the [[Late-May 1998 tornado outbreak and derecho|Southern Great Lakes Derecho of 1998]]. In August 2006, Eagle-Ottawa Leather Co., which developed from the 1838 Sheldon Tannery, announced it would close its local operations that year.

Given the importance of shipping and water trade to the city, the Grand Haven Lighthouses were built in 1839 on the [[Piers and Revetments at Grand Haven, Michigan|south pier]], to mark the most navigable channel into the river. The current lighthouses, painted red, were built in 1875 ([[Grand Haven South Pierhead Entrance Light|outer light]]) and 1905 ([[Grand Haven South Pierhead Inner Light|inner]]). They are connected by a lighted catwalk, which runs along the pier to the shore.<ref name=tri>{{cite uscghist|MI|access-date =2014-07-21}}</ref>

[[George "Baby Face" Nelson]] and [[Homer Van Meter]], who became notorious 1930s criminals, committed their first bank robbery at a Grand Haven bank. Nelson teamed up with [[Eddie Bentz]] to rob the People's Saving Bank on the corner of 3rd St. and Washington Ave. Bullet holes can still be found in some of the neighboring brick buildings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://harris23.msu.domains/event/1933-baby-face-nelson-robs-first-bank-in-grand-haven-michigan/| title= 1933: Baby Face Nelson Robs First Bank in Grand Haven, Michigan|website=Michigan Day by Day |date=August 18, 2018}}</ref>