[4] The city sits along the Grand River 12.7 miles (20.4 kilometers) west of downtown Lansing.

Native Americans who lived in the vicinity of the Grand River near the ledges were of Pottawatomi, Chippewa, and Ottawa ancestry.

His journal describes the sandstone ledges as having high banks, some pine trees and heavy woods with the finest places possible for making syrup, and the existence of several small islands.

In 1850 settlers named their village Grand Ledge, and erected a post office.

Grand Ledge grew as a resort area during the 1870s, spurred by the railroad access.

To reduce the risk of flooding from Grand River, Mudge built a dam (1887).

The second and third islands were joined with a causeway, and a pavilion served as a ballroom and theatre for Vaudeville acts.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth islands were left wild, and the seventh was a picnic spot, accessed by boat.

The construction was nearly complete by then, but the rushing waters pushed chunks of ice into its overhanging foundation.

Although the building was saved, the mechanism that was to rotate its upper portions was so damaged that repairs were never initiated.

The Round House remained on the site, becoming the most recognizable symbol of the entire resort era.

While a folly can be a costly and foolish undertaking, it can also describe a picturesque structure built as an ornament, but without a real purpose.”.

The airport is accessible by road from Eaton Highway and is located 2.1 miles (3.4 km) south of Interstate 96, just east of M-100.

A small yard remains active for local shippers, including a Lowes distribution center.

The remnant of a branch line to Ionia begins here to serve a large grain elevator several miles north of town.

Passenger service between Detroit and Grand Rapids, then provided by predecessor Chesapeake & Ohio, ended after April 30, 1971.

The railroad crosses the Grand River adjacent to the Ledges on a spectacular high bridge.

One of the largest railroad bridges in the state of Michigan, it remains a sought after landmark for railfans and general tourists alike.

Oak Park in Grand Ledge is one of the few places to climb in Michigan, making it a popular destination for local climbers.