About Downtown

Downtown is the heart and soul of Traverse City.  Enjoy Clinch Park and West End Beach with all of the fun in the sun that it brings in the summer on Grand Traverse Bay.  Rent kayaks or SUP's, swim at the public beaches, serve up some beach volleyball at the established courts, ride or run the TART trail along the beach, or enjoy the marina and expansive Open Space.  

Many of the well-known Front Street businesses are in this neighborhood.  Find incredible restaurants and shops, catch a movie at State Theatre or The Bijou by the Bay, or just stroll and explore the historic streets and buildings.   This is where you'll find all of the festivals including Cherry, Film, Comedy, and more!  Boardman River meanders its way to the bay through Downtown Traverse City from Boardman Lake to the south.

History

Just along the border of the Downtown neighborhood is the site of the Traverse City History Center, which is dedicated to the preservation, protection, and presentation of the historical record of Traverse City and the Grand Traverse Region. The History Center of Traverse City will collaborate with and support other historically focused groups and organizations, present educational programs and events. 

In 1847, Captain Boardman of Naperville, Illinois, purchased the land at the mouth of the Boardman River at the head of the west arm of the bay. During that year the captain, his son, and their employees built a dwelling and sawmill near the mouth of the river. In 1851 the Boardmans sold the sawmill to Hannah, Lay & Co (Perry Hannah, Albert Tracy Lay and James Morgan), who improved the mill greatly. The increased investment in the mill attracted additional settlers to the new community.

Landmarks

One special landmark is the beautiful City Opera House, built in 1891 and beautifully renovated with more than $8.5 million in exquisite restoration work. The City Opera House is one of six historically intact Victorian opera houses in Michigan and has hosted everything from plays, concerts and operettas, to gala balls, social functions, community festivals and celebrations. The City Opera House truly is a community-based, community-supported gathering space for Grand Traverse residents and visitors alike.

Built by Henry D. Campbell on park land purchased from the city in 1873, the Park Place Hotel started as the Campbell House Hotel. Five years later, lumber barons J. Perry Hannah and A. Tracy Lay bought and upgraded the property to levels of opulence and service equal to the era's world-class hotels. Appropriately, they re-named it Park Place.