Traverse City - Michigan - History

1860 A Hannah & Lay steamer begins weekly service between Chicago and Traverse City.

1862 Traverse City population 300.

1872 First railroad, Grand Rapids & Indiana, arrived in town on November would mean all the difference in growth or no growth.

1873 Henry Campbell built Campbell House (later called Park Place Hotel).

1878 Fire station built on the corner of Union and 7th.

1879 Susan B. Anthony lectured at Ladies Library on Woman's Suffrage.

1881 Traverse City incorporated as a village. Cows forbidden from roaming at large in the village.

1881 Perry & Hannah successful in having Traverse City become the location for the new Northern Michigan Asylum. With an average of 1,000 employees the hospital played a significant role in the area's economy until it closed in 1989.

1883 Hannah & Lay's big general store opened at Front and Union. With its own generator in the basement, it had the only electricity in town.

1884 First telephone service.

1885 Population of Traverse City near 4,000.

1893 Lumber business peaks at 250 million board feet.

1894 The City Opera House, now in restoration, hosts Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado.

1897 Speed laws for horses: 8 mph on Front Street, 12 mph on Union.

1899 First golf course opened on land from Perry Hannah "west of St. Francis Church".

1899 R.B. Cobb drove first automobile in Traverse City on July 7.

1915 Lumber industry declined dramatically.

1918 Fruit trees, particularly cherry were discovered to thrive in the area. Apples lead at first. Fruit production becomes the area's most important industry.

1924 The first cherry harvest celebration "Blessing of the Blossoms" (to become the National Cherry Festival) attracted 3,000 people.

1926 New Munson Hospital dedicated.

1928 Interlochen Music Camp opened.

1930 The Traverse City area developed reputation as a summer recreation spot.

1934 Con Foster Museum at Clinch Park built.

1942- 48 National Cherry Festival suspended during war era.

1950 With summer and winter recreation popular, tourism becomes the area's second most popular industry.

1951 North-western Michigan College founded.

1953 Grandview Parkway built.

1962 First Civic Players performance: "Little Foxes" (future company of the Old Town Playhouse).

Mid-1970's Locust and green ash trees planted to add beauty to downtown Traverse City. Many buildings restored.

1969 Cherry Capital Airport spurs more tourism and rapid growth.

1969 The discovery of the Niagaren Reef Trend kicks off the explosion of activity in the oil and gas industry. No matter where in Northern Michigan oil and gas were found in the next 20 years, the companies that explored and found them would keep professional offices in Traverse City.

1975-1980 Oil and gas industries were having significant impact on the Traverse City area.

1970's First wineries became established.

1978 The Cherryland Mall opens with 100 stores.

1980's Traverse City grew becoming one of Michigan's leading cities. Tourism becomes a more and more dominant industry.

1981 A group of civic leaders including owners of area properties create the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

1983 The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians brought gaming to the area. The Leelanau Sands Casino opened near Suttons Bay. With gaming comes the first significant source of income for the tribe in over a hundred years. Health and education services began to be upgraded.

1986 Start of great expansion of motel and resort properties that still continues.

1992 Grand Traverse Mall opens on South Airport Drive.

1996 The Traverse City Visitor Center opened at the corner of Union and Grandview Parkway.

1997 Turtle Creek Casino opened in Acme.