PLAY: Grand Haven State Park (1001 Harbor Drive) opened in 1920. In 1938 this concrete pavilion/bathhouse building was constructed in the Moderne style was completed using Public Works Administration funds. Although Lake Michigan in October will almost certainly be too cold for swimming, visitors enjoy a walk on the beach, soak up some fall sunshine and play in the sand and shop on Main Street.

PLAY: Another fine option for a lovely fall walk is Duncan Woods (1115 Sheldon Boulevard) 1913. Located off Sheldon Road, Duncan Woods is a nature preserve of beech and hemlock trees and can be enjoyed year-round. It includes a walking area through the forested back dune. From 1940-1973 motorists were able to access a paved road to drive all the way through the preserve. The property downated by Martha Huntington Duncan on her death in 1913. She was the wife of city pioneer Robert W. Duncan who came to Grand Haven in 1851. The beautiful wooded land was adjacent to their home on Lake Drive. It was given to the city for the enjoyment of the public with a trust for its maintenance.

United Methodist Church of the Dunes (717 Sheldon Boulevard) 1960. by Alden B. Dow. The wooded site frees the low-profile church. According to the Aldent B. Dow Studio blog features a. sandy brick exterior, a pitched roof that increases in height from front to back, and a roofline that forms a deep peak over recessed entry doors. For more information link here: United Methodist Church of the Dunes

View: Chevrolet sign (1701 S. Beacon Boulevard) 1960s. This visible industry symbol features the iconic Chevrolet “bowtie” brand developed in 1913 by company co-founder William Durant. In 2019 after being granted landmark status by the city, the historic sign was taken down, checked for structural integrity, refurbished, and fitted with new neon tubes by Postema Signs & Graphics.

DINE: Stan’s Tacos (21 Beacon Boulevard) 1968. The repurposed modern building with it’s stunning roof was formerly the Citizens Bank. It opened recently as Stan’s Tacos. Local artist and Mural by Design owner Sotir Davidhi created a large wall mural for the interior space featuring an aerial view of local Grand Haven landmarks. Although it is currently closed due to staffing shortages, it expects to reopen soon. The owner is Meritage and the restaurant has several locations in metropolitan Grand Rapids.

DINE: You can’t miss the sign on Beacon for Rays Drive-In (20 N. Beacon Boulevard) 1960. Stop for a quick meal in this old-style burger joint. Ray Harz opened Ray's Drive-In offering “beefburgers”, fries, milkshakes, shrimp and fish. It continues to be a popular fast-food location.

PLAY: Getty Drive-In (920 E. Summit) 1948 is still open in 2021. The theater started as a single-screen and was called the NK Outdoor Theater. Grand Rapids theater mogul Jack Loeks Theatres purchased the drive-in and renamed it the Getty Drive-In in 1960. Three more screens were added in 1979 and then it ws the Midwest’s largest. In 1991 an FM radio frequency was offered so that viewers could listen to the movie’s sound via the radio. By the late 1990s it was one of the few remaining operational drive-in theaters. In 2013 the theater converted to digital projection. These facts were found in 7/13/2015 MLive Muskegon article by Michelle D. Anderson.

VIEW: The World War II submarine “The Silversides,” a Gato (Drum) class submarine launched in California in 1941, is docked nearby the Pere Marquette Beach at the U.S.S. Silversides Submarine Museum (1346 Bluff, Muskegon) 1987. The USS Silversides helped the United States Navy sink 23 ships in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It is possible to schedule an overnight “encampment” on the Silversides. Check Museum for details SILVERSIDES. This site is an interesting place to visit if you make a trip to Musekgon but also because architects, builders, engineers were all called up to serve in World War II and the role of these skilled professionals ranged from building extraordinary instruments of war such as submarines, airplanes, and armoured vehicles, developing field housing, designing armaments and vehicles. Following the war’s end the innovative use of new materials and technologies became the norm in mid-century modern building design.