The Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival is a nationally renowned event attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The fact that the Coast Guard has a festival of this size and importance is unsurprising. The Coast Guard is, after all, a vital part of the United States military that saves lives at sea and enforces the law in U.S. waters. But, how did the most popular Coast Guard Festival come to be in Grand Haven, Michigan?

The journey to ensure 17 Grand Haven WWI soldiers received their Purple Heart medals unintentionally began in 2019 when Dr. Chris Petras, a member of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 28 Grand Haven, wanted to know more about the Post’s namesake, Charles A. Conklin.

'Play Ball' showcased our area’s proud sports history from the late 1800s to the present...from the scrappy beginnings of specialty clubs and teams to the astounding variety (dog sledding! sailing! equestrianism! curling!) of sports where youth and adults, women and men, amateurs and professionals, leave it all on the field in pursuit of athletic perfection.

An exploration of the history of one of the lakeshore's hidden gems