Since the 1830s when the first hints of permanent settlement appeared on the banks near the mouth of the Saginaw River, the river and bay have supported the busy traffic of a major Great Lakes seaport, the humming saws of hundreds of lumber mills, the waves caused by countless vessel launches, and the many other sounds, sights, and smells indicative of industry and innovation. Bay City and West Bay City became major players in the lumbering, shipping, and shipbuilding industries on the Great Lakes from the mid-1800s into the 19th century. Indeed, innovation and perseverance have been the keys to Bay County's world-class maritime industry and culture that are still apparent today.