Big Traverse Bay Historic District

Big Traverse Bay Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Michigan State Historic Site
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Nearest city	Lake Linden, Michigan
Coordinates	47°11′35″N 88°14′12″W / 47.19306°N 88.23667°W / 47.19306; -88.23667
Area	9 acres (3.6 ha)
NRHP reference No.	75000946[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	November 20, 1975
Designated MSHS	February 21, 1975[2]

The Big Traverse Bay Historic District is a historic district located east of Lake Linden, Michigan at the mouth of the Traverse River. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1975.^[1][2]

The site on which the Big Traverse Bay Historic District now stands was originally a logging camp owned by the Hebard Lumber Company, dating from the last two decades of the 19th century.^[2] A substantial number of Finnish emigres moved into the area, working in the lumber, mining, or fishing industries. By 1920, Big Traverse Bay had developed into a primarily fishing community. in the 1950s, construction of a breakwater and changes to the harbor resulted in the demolition of a number of houses, as well as a footbridge across the river. The community remains an active, and relatively isolated, fishing community.^[2]

Big Traverse Bay is a small Finnish fishing community located on a peninsula and adjacent mainland at the mouth of the Traverse River on Lake Superior.^[2] The community includes approximately 40 small, single-story, gable-roofed houses with aluminum siding an undeveloped yards. Vintage gasoline pumps, net reels, cedar shake-covered fishing buildings, ice houses and saunas are still in use.^[2]