Creating a Harbor

Creating a Harbor (HM1AH5)

Location: St Joseph, MI 49085 Berrien County
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Country: United States of America
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N 42° 6.684', W 86° 28.907'

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Inscription
The meeting of river and lake provided a natural setting for a harbor at St. Joseph. Human engineering would ultimately develop the port into one of the busiest on Lake Michigan.

In the 1830s, at the urging of local merchants, the U.S. Corps of Engineers removed a large sandbar and built protective piers on either side of the river mouth. By 1838, the swampy river entrance was transformed into a thriving port, rivaling the maritime trade of Chicago.

Regular dredging, pier maintenance and lighthouses keep the harbor accessible for commercial and recreational traffic.

(Upper Drawing Caption)
Making a harbor from the narrow river mouth required extensive engineering. This 1839 drawing proposes the extension of piers, changing the river's course and depth.
MAP: The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center

(Middle Photo Caption)
The harbor has been continually updated to accommodate the growing size of commercial vessels. This aerial view shows the harbor in 2007.
Photo: Denise Reeves

(Lower Photo Caption)
Private investors expanded the port in the 1860s by digging the Benton Harbor Ship Canal, making it one of West Michigan's busiest harbors.
Photo: The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center
Details
HM NumberHM1AH5
Tags
Placed ByCity of St. Joseph, The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, and the Public History Program at Western Michigan University
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 at 11:50pm PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)16T E 542842 N 4662274
Decimal Degrees42.11140000, -86.48178333
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 42° 6.684', W 86° 28.907'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds42° 6' 41.04" N, 86° 28' 54.42" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)269
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 550 Port St, St Joseph MI 49085, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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