At the northern tip of the peninsula is Mission Point Light, which lies just south of the 45th parallel north.

The settlement at Old Mission was the first community founded by Europeans in the Grand Traverse Bay region, as a duty of the federal government under the Treaty of Washington (1836).

At the time of their arrival there were a few Native American residents of what appeared to be a nearly abandoned village at the harbor.

These natives made smoke signals over their watch fire to summon a substantial number of men of the tribe to canoe across the bay to join the visitors for a multi-day parlay.

In June 1839 Henry Schoolcraft arrived at the mission in a small vessel and helped found a school there.

By 1841 a seasonal village that was important for sheltering tribal members during trading expeditions, hunts, fishing endeavors, and gathering nearby wild rice had grown to a permanent village, with 5 log buildings as well as several wigwams at the settlement.

By 1850 the settlement had grown to a considerable size, and the schooner Arrow was making weekly trips to the mission from Mackinaw City.

This was the only official post office in the Grand Traverse Bay region, indeed the only one between Mackinaw City and Croton.

By the time of the civil war, the Presbyterian organization which funded Dougherty had financial difficulty, and missionary activities were discontinued.

[6] Beginning in the early 1940s, the Michigan State Highway Department (now MDOT) constructed Center Road to allow for easier access up the peninsula, with motorists previously having to remain on narrow and winding shoreline roads.

The Old Mission Peninsula sits close to the 45th parallel, a latitude known for growing prestigious grapes.

[citation needed] The two Grand Traverse Bays provide the ideal maritime climate and the rich soil does the rest.