The European-American settlement started with a mission by French Catholic Jesuits; they called this area L'Arbre Croche, meaning Crooked Tree.
In 1847, L'Arbre Croche had the largest concentration of Native Americans in Michigan.
French traders renamed the area Petit Traverse, or Little Traverse, when they arrived in the area.
After more settlers came to the area from the eastern United States, they changed the name of the village to Harbor Springs, incorporating it in 1880.

The federally recognized Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians are descendants of the numerous Odawa bands that historically occupied this area.
They have their tribal offices in Harbor Springs, and a gaming resort in Petoskey.

One of the city's more prominent European-American residents was Ephraim Shay (1839–1916), known for his invention of the Shay locomotive.
The hexagonal-shaped house he built in downtown Harbor Springs still stands today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
 The local elementary school is named after him.

Another building of interest is the Douglas House on the shore of Lake Michigan.
Designed by noted architect Richard Meier and completed in 1973, this house is one of 150 structures listed in 2007 as America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.

Harbor Springs was the location of the Club Ponytail, a famous music hall destroyed by fire in 1969.
The European-American settlement started with a mission by French Catholic Jesuits; they called this area L'Arbre Croche, meaning Crooked Tree. In 1847, L'Arbre Croche had the largest concentration of Native Americans in Michigan. French traders renamed the area Petit Traverse, or Little Traverse, when they arrived in the area. After more settlers came to the area from the eastern United States, they changed the name of the village to Harbor Springs, incorporating it in 1880.
The federally recognized Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians are descendants of the numerous Odawa bands that historically occupied this area. They have their tribal offices in Harbor Springs, and a gaming resort in Petoskey.
One of the city's more prominent European-American residents was Ephraim Shay (1839–1916), known for his invention of the Shay locomotive. The hexagonal-shaped house he built in downtown Harbor Springs still stands today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The local elementary school is named after him.
Another building of interest is the Douglas House on the shore of Lake Michigan. Designed by noted architect Richard Meier and completed in 1973, this house is one of 150 structures listed in 2007 as America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.
Harbor Springs was the location of the Club Ponytail, a famous music hall destroyed by fire in 1969.
Harbor Springs, Michigan