Downtown Bay City Historic District

When lumber was king and Bay City was a favorite spring-time destination for lumberjacks, a four-block long area along Water and Third Streets known as "Hell's Half Mile" provided ample diversion for the fun-loving "shanty boys." Today's Downtown Historic District offers diversions of another kind with quaint shops, pubs and eateries housed in turn-of-the-century brick buildings. Recognized for its commitment to preserving the historic architecture and character so prevalent in the area, Downtown Bay City received a "Great American Main Street" award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1999.