06/03/2026
Art Coast Archives
These four photographs capture a small part of a story that helped shape modern-day Saugatuck and Douglas.
The first image shows the Blue Tempo, a Douglas bar that became a gathering place for LGBTQ visitors beginning in the 1950s and is often cited among the earliest gay bars in West Michigan.
The second photograph features the Elms Hotel, which became known as a welcoming destination for LGBTQ travelers during a time when that was far from common.
The third image captures a summer day at Oval Beach in the 1980s, reflecting the growing popularity of the area as a vacation destination and gathering place.
The final photograph shows the Douglas Dunes now known as The Dunes Resort, Saugatuck MI
The Dunes remains one the most iconic LGBTQ resorts in the country.
Together, these places and people played a role in shaping the culture, character, and history of the Art Coast.
For those interested in learning more, we've linked an excellent article from Saugatuck/Douglas Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Saugatuck-Douglas History Center
https://saugatuck.com/celebrating-a-century-of-lgbtq-progress/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=hotelsaugatuck_organic&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_content=HSsocial_post
