HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – Maybe you’ve driven by it on your way to Holland State Park but have never stopped to take a peek inside? Well now you can see what the historic pump house building on Ottawa Beach Road is all about.
The Historic Ottawa Beach Society will have four open houses this Summer. The first one is June 29 followed by July 21 and August 18 with a book singing by local authors including Craig Rich. September 15 will be the last open house of the Summer. They run from 4-6 p.m. and are free.
The pump house, a building from 1901, is the only surviving structure from the once magnificent Ottawa Beach Hotel. The building was renovated in 2015 by Ottawa County Parks and HOBS and opened to the public for the first time in June of last year. More restorations and renovations are planned for the pump house as HOBS strives to create a learning center and museum dedicated to local history. Until then, the public can only view the interior during special open houses and programs.
When you visit, be sure to take a look at the new exhibit: Icebound: the Ordeal of the SS Michigan. The exhibit tells the story of the 1885 sinking of the SS Michigan off Holland and the heroic survival of its crew. You can hear this exciting tale told by local historians at a free program on July 7 from 7-8:30 p.m.
The pump house is located at 2390 Ottawa Beach Road in Holland. It is just north of the Coast Guard Station. Admission is free, donations are welcome.
