Do you love to comb the beach in search of unique treasures? Are you looking for great beaches along the southern Lake Michigan shore for the best finds? From marbles to pottery, unique rocks, fossils, and other treasures, the southern Lake Michigan shore is home to beautiful beaches full of unique finds. In this post I’ll share three of my favorite Lake Michigan beaches to comb for beach glass and other unique treasures.
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History of Glass in the Great Lakes
…..but first, a bit of history…… The Great Lakes have historically 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 from 1941 to 2008. 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. Commonly found along the shores of Lake Erie in this area, this is also known as vitrite glass.
Glass Production in the Great Lakes
In the late 1800s, glass was primarily produced in the eastern United States in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. From these states, glass was transported across the country (at great cost). Glass was first produced in Wisconsin in 1880, 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. Bottles, pottery, and other glass were smoothed and polished over many years by the power of Lake Michigan. 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.
Beach Glass Fun Fact
……Did you Know? Beach glass, pottery, and fossils are smoothed and rounded more quickly in fresh water than in salt water due to the lower pH of fresh water.
Beach Glass at Simmons Island Beach – Kenosha
Located at 5001 4th Avenue in Kenosha, Simmons Island Park and Beach is my favorite spot for beach glass! Additionally, 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 various colors, fossils, pottery, and one marble. I have even found porcelain dating back to the 1920s!
When is the Best Time to Find Beach Glass?
Calm days that follow big summer storms provide excellent opportunities for beach combing. Beach glass, crinoid fossils, and pottery pieces are churned up and brought to shore by large waves. If you enjoy quiet and a good sunrise, I recommend checking out Simmons Island Beach early in the morning. Beachgoers fill the parking lot by late morning. As such, afternoon and evening are busier; however, if you’re the social type, this is a great time to mingle with beachgoers.
Simmons Island Beach Hours
The beach is open daily from sunrise until 10pm.  Bathrooms are located in the recently renovated Beach House (also on the National Register of Historic Places). The Beach House also hosts a beer garden with food and beverages, in addition to renting out recreational equipment.
Beach Glass at Grant Park Beach and the 7 Bridges Trail – South Milwaukee
Located at 100 E. Hawthorne Avenue in South Milwaukee, Grant Park is a 400-acre park with over 2 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. Within the park are picnic areas, the historic Frederick C. Wulff Lodge, and two observation decks overlooking the lake. The 7 Bridges Trail, once featured in Midwest Living Magazine, is located within Grant Park. I highly recommend checking it out!Â
Grant Park Beach
When you visit, you can take your time and enjoy the long 2 mile stretch of beach. In addition, you can expect to find glass in a variety of colors. In past visits, I have found amber, green, clear, and cobalt blue. For the fossil lovers, crinoids, trilobites, and brachiopods can also be found along this beach.
Yooperlites!
Occasionally, “Yooperlites”, fluorescent sodalite stones rich in syenite can be found at Grant Park Beach. Most commonly found in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and along the Wisconsin shore of Lake Superior, these sodalite stones can be found throughout the Great Lakes.Â
Yooperlite Facts
While they appear opaque and ordinary in daylight, they glow beneath ultraviolet (UV) light due to a mineral called fluorescent sodalite. Sodalite absorbs ultraviolet light, emitting it as visible light, seen by the human eye as bright orange or yellow.Â
Guide to Finding Yooperlites
Check out this guide from Pure Michigan offering tips for finding Yooperlites! I encourage you to pick up an inexpensive UV flashlight to determine if your finds are indeed Yooperlites.
Beach Glass at Schlitz Audubon Beach – Bayside Wisconsin
About an hour north of Simmons Island is the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, at 1111 E. Brown Deer Road in Bayside, Wisconsin. Schlitz is a gorgeous nature center comprised of 185 acres, 6 miles of hiking trails, and an observation tower. Admission to Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is $10, ($7 for ages 3-17 and military members).Â
Beach Access at Schlitz Audubon Center
You can access the beach via the paved hiking trail at the center. The admission fee is absolutely worth it; I encourage you to check out all that Schlitz has to offer. In addition to the beach, you can hike the trails, look for unique birds, and observe unique plants.
Common Finds at Schlitz Audubon Center
Numerous colors of beach glass can be found at Schlitz beach. The most common colors I have found are shades of green, brown, amber, yellow, and opaque white “milk glass”. Historically, arsenic was added to the glass in order to yield its opalescent, milky white appearance. Milk glass was popular both in the United States and England between 1835. In the late 1980s it was used to make tableware, vases, and candles.Â
Finding Beach Glass at Schlitz Audubon Center
Check out this article from Schlitz Audubon Nature Center about searching for beach glass at the beach on site:Â Finding Beach Glass at Schlitz Audubon Beach
Best Lake Michigan Beaches
I’ve highlighted just three of my favorite Wisconsin beaches along Lake Michigan‘s southern shore, though there are dozens more! You’ll find that each beach has its own unique charm and its own unique treasures to offer. Get out there and enjoy Lake Michigan’s many beautiful beaches!
Outdoor for Your Beachcombing Adventures
If you’re anything like me, you’ll hit the beach in any season, in any weather! Weather is ever-changing in the Midwest! Mornings and evenings can be chilly, and midday sun can be intense, even into the fall months. Be sure your skin is protected. As we move into the COOLER fall days, consider the Outdoor Research Trail Mix Snap Pullover in Women’s or Men’s.
Eye protection is especially important for recreation near or on the water, with the added glare off the water. Polarized lenses help to reduce glare and minimize eye fatigue. For a great pair of polarized lenses, check out the Fairplay Polarized Sunglasses, or the Suncloud Topsail Polarized Glasses in polar blue.Â
Beachcombing Packs
If you’re looking for a simple hands free sling or waist pack to collect beach glass, consider the Daylite Sling or the Transporter Waist Pack. I love the lightweight, adjustable comfort of this particular sling and waist pack. If you prefer a lumbar pack, check out the Talon 6 Multi-sport Lumbar Pack.  Osprey’s Packfinder is a great tool to find the pack that best fits your frame and activity.Â
If you find yourself at Simmons Island Beach on a Saturday morning between May and October, be sure to check out the Top Farmer’s Market along Lake Michigan’s Shore – Kenosha HarborMarket!
……and……if you’re interested in venturing further inland for a bike ride, Explore the Glacial Landscapes of Southern Wisconsin – Glacial Drumlin State Trail – a beautiful rail trail from Waukesha to Cottage Grove, Wisconsin.
– Erin
