Located at the top of Lake St. Clair at the mouth of the St. Clair River, Harsens Island forms part of the largest freshwater delta in the world. Only an hour’s drive from Detroit, access to the Island is by a short ferry ride from the city of Algonac, MI on the mainland.
The Island was first settled in 1778 by Jacob Harsen, who bought the land from the Chippewa Indians. Originally a farming community, the island became known as a resort community during the latter part of the 19th century when Detroiters came to stay at one of the islland's many clubs or hotels or to visit Tashmoo Park. In those days visitors arrived by passenger steamer. One of the most well known of these was the steamerTashmoo. The first island school was established c. 1818. The Fire Hall, now the island museum was built in 1931. Originally a farming community, the Island became known as a resort community during the latter part of the 19th century when Detroiters came to stay at one of the Island’s many clubs or hotels.
Today, the Island covers about 7,000 acres, most of which is protected wildlife refuge and marshland managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Generations of families have come to the Island over the years, either as summer visitors or full-time residents. Today, Harsens Island has 1,200 full-time residents, though from Memorial Day to Labor Day that number swells to more than 5,000 as the “summer folk” come back to their cottages.
Photos to the right are taken from the detroit Publishing Company photo collection now in the Library of Congress and available online.