The Potawatomi and Ottawa Indians lived in the area for centuries and used the river as a trade route into the interior of Michigan.
Some of the long culture of the Ottawa tribe is being revealed through the excavation of archeological artifacts.

The city dates its European-American founding to French colonial settlers.
A fur trading outpost called Gabagouache was first established by Madeline La Framboise and her husband Joseph.

After the War of 1812, this area became more settled by Americans.
The first permanent resident was a Presbyterian minister, William Montague Ferry, who founded in 1834 the first area church and neighboring town of Ferrysburg.
Residents named the town as "Grand Haven" in 1835.
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.

In the mid-to-late 19th century, Grand Haven developed as a logging, lumber mill and shipping town, as well as a shipbuilding center.

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 1900–1984.
The smokestack at the piano factory collapsed during the 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 south pier, to mark the most navigable channel into the river.
The current lighthouses, painted red, were built in 1875 (outer light) and 1905 (inner).
They are connected by a lighted catwalk, which runs along the pier to the shore.

George "Baby Face" Nelson and Homer Van Meter, who became notorious 1930s criminals, committed their first bank robbery at a Grand Haven bank.
The Potawatomi and Ottawa Indians lived in the area for centuries and used the river as a trade route into the interior of Michigan. Some of the long culture of the Ottawa tribe is being revealed through the excavation of archeological artifacts.
The city dates its European-American founding to French colonial settlers. A fur trading outpost called Gabagouache was first established by Madeline La Framboise and her husband Joseph.
After the War of 1812, this area became more settled by Americans. The first permanent resident was a Presbyterian minister, William Montague Ferry, who founded in 1834 the first area church and neighboring town of Ferrysburg. Residents named the town as "Grand Haven" in 1835. 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.
In the mid-to-late 19th century, Grand Haven developed as a logging, lumber mill and shipping town, as well as a shipbuilding center.
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 1900–1984. The smokestack at the piano factory collapsed during the 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 south pier, to mark the most navigable channel into the river. The current lighthouses, painted red, were built in 1875 (outer light) and 1905 (inner). They are connected by a lighted catwalk, which runs along the pier to the shore.
George "Baby Face" Nelson and Homer Van Meter, who became notorious 1930s criminals, committed their first bank robbery at a Grand Haven bank.
Grand Haven, Michigan