The dam and the powerhouse were completed in 1925 by the Detroit Edison Company on land previously purchased in 1910.

The dam and powerhouse were designated as a Michigan State Historic Site on February 18, 1982.

[1] The French Landing Dam is about 28 miles (45 km) from the river mouth at Lake Erie.

[2] When the dam was completed, the resulting reservoir created Belleville Lake and subsequently led to the destruction of the village of Rawsonville.

[5] The powerhouse facility and the dam are off limits to the public, but the surrounding area along Haggerty Road has been organized as the French Landing Park, which is a popular destination for picnickers and shore fishermen.