All Roads Lead to Allegan

Allegan is situated on scenic Lake Allegan. Driving through the community, one is immediately struck by the beautiful waterfront, which features a winding boardwalk lined with parks and crossed by an old iron girder bridge. The motto of the community of Allegan is “All roads lead to Allegan,” and that motto holds true on many levels. As the county seat, it is the home to government agencies as well as numerous non-profits. It is in the middle of the majestic Allegan Forest, a state-run natural area. It is the home to the Allegan County Fair, the largest county fair in the Midwest. It is a town with a remarkable history, which has been lovingly preserved by the community.

Historic reasons to visit Allegan.
Visitors are immediately impressed with Allegan’s beautiful Victorian homes and their unique history. In the early morning of May 10, 1865, Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy, was captured by the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, led by Lt. Col. BD Pritchard, a lawyer and businessman from Allegan. The capture led to a $100,000 bounty, which Pritchard shared with his troops. Many of them settled in Allegan and built homes in the neighborhood high on a hill overlooking the community. These homes are meticulously preserved and bear witness to a proud history and a proud community.

The bridge that crosses the lake was constructed by the King Iron Bridge Company in 1866. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the largest extant bridges made by the King Iron Bridge Co.

The Allegan County Historical Society, with its 10,000 artifacts, is housed in the old jail. A 4 bedroom home is part of the jail building and once housed the Sheriff and his family and is completely furnished as it would have been in the early 1900s. The Old Jail Museum is open for tours on Friday and Saturday each week.

Preserving the public buildings is a major priority in Allegan. The pristine Griswald Auditorium, given to the city by the benefactress whose name it bears, has been beautifully maintained by the city for the last 90 years. It offers meeting rooms and a delightful auditorium. The Regent Theater had fallen into disrepair when it was resurrected by a non-profit organization and now maintained by the city. The community response to the movie theater has been outstanding, and a recent funding renewal has secured the theater as a local venue for the next several years. When the old Carnegie library was expanded, the new architecture gracefully melded the two buildings into one. Several of the community’s churches, including the Catholic, the Episcopal, and the Methodist church are worth stopping to see.

Allegan, more than just its history
Perrigo, an over-the-counter pharmaceutical company, is Allegan’s major employer and a major community benefactor. Two other foundations, the Allegan County Community Foundation and the Delano Foundation have helped the community preserve its historical background while providing cultural opportunities for the area.

Every year, the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Association plan many community-wide activities including a huge Independence Day celebration at the Riverfront, outdoor music performances at the gazebo all summer long, a terrific farmer’s market that runs May through October, and various other holiday festivals. The riverfront is the perfect venue for performances and festivals.

Day tripping to Allegan
One of the reasons people come to Allegan is the Antiques Market at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. On the last Sunday of every month, May through October, several hundred antiques dealers set up shop at the fairgrounds with every type of quality antique and collectible.
The Allegan State Game Area is another big draw to the community. Wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities abound in this 50,000-acre state game area. The Allegan Forest is a showcase for oak-pine barrens (also called oak-pine savanna)—a unique community of plants and animals adapted to life on the dry, sandy soils of this area. Allegan also features lowland hardwood and oak-pine forests, wetlands, ponds and open fields. The Kalamazoo River runs through the area, and there are opportunities for cross country skiing, canoeing, hunting, hiking, and camping.
The Allegan County Fair is the largest fair in the Midwest. It features big name entertainment grandstand shows, a huge midway, and an historical village that is only open during the fair. Fair week is the first week in September every year.
Allegan is one of the loveliest communities in Southwest Michigan. Its history, restaurants, shopping, cultural and recreational activities make it an important part of our region. All roads do, indeed, lead to Allegan.

Home | Local | Food | Fun | Parents | Kids | Advertise | Customer Service | Subscription | Site Search