Do you enjoy strolling the shores of our beautiful Great Lakes? Are you an avid beachcomber? Are you looking for great beaches along the southern Lake Michigan shore to search for beach glass, fossils, and pottery? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, look no further than Simmons Island Beach in Kenosha, WI.
From an abundance of colored glass, to pottery, rocks, fossils, the occasional marble, and other unique treasures, the southern Lake Michigan shore is home to beautiful beaches brimming with new finds each day. Here I’ll share one of my favorite Lake Michigan beaches to comb for treasures.
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History of Glass in the Great Lakes
Have you ever wondered about the source of glass found in the Great Lakes? Historically, the Great Lakes have been a dumping ground for glass and industrial waste from factories, plants, and mills.  In Lake Erie, for example, a General Electric plant in Conneaut, Ohio operated for 49 years, from 1941 to 2008. During those years, the plant dumped excess glass from the production of incandescent lightbulbs into the lake to reduce beach erosion. The glass primarily used in the production of these lightbulbs was cobalt blue or black amethyst. This glass, also known as vitrite glass, is commonly found along the shores of Lake Erie in this area.
Glass Production in the Great Lakes
In the late 1800s, glass was produced in the eastern United States. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania were two common states for glass production. From the eastern U.S., glass was transported across the country at great cost. By 1880, glass production began in Wisconsin, when the first glass company was established in Milwaukee.
Where to Find Beach Glass
Today, along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, beaches closest to Chicago and Milwaukee offer the best opportunities to find beach glass. Lake Michigan’s immense power and wave action smoothed and polished bottles, pottery, and other glass over many years. Waves, sand, and rocks, smoothed sharp edges to create rounded pieces.
Common items found along Lake Michigan Beaches include pottery, glass bottle fragments and bottle stoppers. In addition, crinoid fossils and the occasional marble can be found. My favorite finds are the tiny crinoid stacks (pictured below) that can be so small they fit on your fingertip! These are especially fun to find.
Lake Michigan Beach Glass Fun Fact
……Did you Know? The lower pH of fresh water causes beach glass, pottery, and fossils to be smoothed and rounded more quickly in fresh water than in salt water.
Beach Glass at Simmons Island – Kenosha
Located at 5001 4th Avenue in Kenosha, Simmons Island Park and Beach is my favorite spot for beach glass! Also, it’s one of my favorite beaches in Kenosha. Over the years, I have found an abundance of treasures here. My finds have included beach glass in a variety of colors, fossils, pottery, and one yellow marble. I have even found porcelain dating back to the 1920s!
Lake Michigan Crinoid Fossils
If you’re interested in Earth’s geologic history, you may know a bit about fossils commonly found in the Great Lakes region. A common fossil find at Simmons Island Beach is a crinoid, or less commonly, a crinoid stack. Crinoids are ancient marine animals from the mid-Cambrian period, first found over 300 million years before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Structurally, crinoids look like ancient sea lilies, with floating flowers that open to gather food. The image below is courtesy of Fossilera.com.
Best Time to Find Beach Glass
I used to believe that the windy, stormy days would be best for finding Lake Michigan treasures. However, in my experience, calm days that follow big summer storms provide excellent opportunities for beachcombing. Large waves churn up the lake, bringing beach glass, crinoid fossils, and pottery pieces to shore.
If you enjoy quiet – and a good sunrise – I highly recommend Simmons Island Beach early in the morning. Afternoon and evening can be busy, especially during summer. However, if you’re the social type, this is a great time to mingle with beachgoers. I’ve met so many friendly folks over the years, and have enjoyed comparing my finds with them.
Simmons Island Beach Hours
The beach is open daily from sunrise until 10pm. In my opinion, the best time for beachcombing is early to mid-morning in the summer. Beachgoers flock to the beach, filling the parking lot by late morning.  The Beach House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (see photo below). The Beach House hosts a beer garden, serving food and beverages with outdoor seating and picnic tables in the sand. In addition, you can rent recreational equipment for the beach. Bathrooms are located on the west side of the Beach House.
Lake Michigan Market Treasures | Different Kind of Treasure
If you find yourself at Simmons Island Beach on a Saturday morning between 9am-2pm between May and October, be sure to check out Kenosha’s HarborMarket, located at the harbor on 2nd Street in Kenosha. This vibrant market hosts over 100 vendors each week, in addition to food trucks, live music, and handmade gifts. Read on for more information in my blog post: Top Farmer’s Market along Lake Michigan’s Shore – Kenosha HarborMarket!
In the meantime, happy treasure hunting – enjoy your exploration of this beautiful Lake Michigan beach!
– Erin
