A Great Lakes industrial port since before the Civil War, receiving raw materials and shipping out finished goods, Waukegan Harbor transformed into both a recreational and commercial dock over the years as the Waukegan Harbor & Marina opened in 1985.

Gone now are most of the factories which fueled the local economy for years, while the harbor and marina grow with pleasure boats — motor and sail craft ranging from basic boats to yachts — adding its own dimension to the city’s economy and culture.

Mayor Sam Cunningham said the harbor has become a “gathering space that strengthens our local economy, promotes tourism and creates memories for families across generations.” Its potential will continue to grow, he said.

The Waukegan Harbor & Marina offers services to industrial ships on the north side and pleasure craft to the south. The marina celebrates its 40th anniversary on Saturday. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)

“For 40 years, the Waukegan harbor has been a cornerstone of our community, bringing people together, supporting local businesses and showcasing the natural beauty of our lakefront,” Cunningham said.

The Waukegan Harbor & Marina celebrates its 40th anniversary with a community celebration from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the lakefront in Waukegan commemorating its achievements over the past four decades, but not forgetting its storied past dating back to nearly a century before.

A highlight of the event will likely be the appearance of the world’s largest rubber duck — 60 feet tall — and her 10-foot-tall baby duckling Timmy. Allan Kutzler, the marina’s operations manager and director of marketing and special events, said the ducks have an environmental message appropriate for the lakefront.

“She is protecting the preservation of Mother Nature, and we’re excited to have mama and baby duckling here to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the marina,” Kutzler said, referring the the pair’s inaugural stop along the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor.

From cleansing the harbor from over a century of industrial pollution to preserving the Waukegan Dunes running the length of the city’s north beach, the environment played a key role in the evolution of the lakefront.

Lisa May, the city’s lakefront coordinator, has a strong respect for the environment.

“Mother nature always wins,” she said recently.

Boaters without a slip at the Waukegan Harbor & Marina can put their craft in the water there. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)

Nearly 100 years before the marina was opened in 1985, Ty Rohrer, the cultural affairs manager for the Waukegan Park District and a historian, said piers started appearing in the area where the harbor now sits as the need to bring raw materials to the fledgling factories on the lakefront grew.

Gene Bach, a member of the Waukegan Port District’s Board of Directors and its historian, said in an email that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received permission to build a commercial shipping port in 1880. Amenities like lighthouses, moorings, slips and more were added over the years.

“Shipping by water is the most environmentally friendly way to transport a bulk product,” Bach said. “Waukegan has the infrastructure to support that with direct access to rail and interstate highway systems.”

A barge moves into Waukegan’s commercial harbor on its way to making a delivery at one of the remaining industrial facilities. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)

With the Waukegan Port District created in the 1950s, Bach said approximately 20 years later the Port District, city officials and civic leaders determined a harbor for pleasure boats would be beneficial for the city. The conversations led to the opening of the marina in 1985.

When people arrive at Saturday’s event, Kutzler said they will be able to do more than take selfies with the giant rubber ducks. There will be live musical performances at Green Town on the Rocks, food trucks for refreshments, and a variety of water-themed entertainment like performances on water skis, jet skis and fly boards.

“They’re a water jet pack,” Kutzler said, referring to the fly boards. “It’s jet propulsion in the water. They fly out of the water and into the air.”

Cargo ships enter and exit Waukegan’s harbor from Lake Michigan as they have for well over a century. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)

Having memories of the harbor as a young boy, as mayor Cunningham said he has a vision of what the lakefront can do for the city as a whole. For the area south of the harbor and the Waukegan River — once bustling with factories — he sees homes by the beach with a cost far below what they are in Lake Forest or Winnetka.

“With modern amenities, additional housing, vibrant recreation, and continued investment, this area can become a true regional destination, attracting new visitors, spurring economic growth, and ensuring Waukegan’s lakefront remains a source of pride and opportunity for decades to come,” he said.

Joe Seidelman, the Port District’s general manager, said the harbor — both the marina and commercial ports — is a valuable resource for both Waukegan and Lake County overall. It is the only facility like it commercially and recreationally between the Wisconsin state line and Chicago.

“The marina was a big transition from a harbor for industrial use to now, (including) the recreational use of Lake Michigan,” Seidelman said. “We’ve made a huge transition from Outboard Marine and Johnson Motors to getting the lakefront ready for development for future use.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/28/waukegan-harbor-40th-anniversary/