The Grand Traverse Region
by Alexander Winchell A. M. published 1866
Geological and Industrial Resources of
Lower Peninsula of Michigan
www.archive.org/stream/grandtraverse00winc#page/72/mode/2up
A few of the harbor and point names
The early French voyageurs in coasting from Mackinac southward found two considerable indentations of the coast line of Lake Michigan on the east side, which there were accustomed to cross from headland to headland. The smaller of these they designated "La Petite Traverse" and the greater, "La Grande Traverse." These names were transferred to the two bays known as the Little Traverse and Grand Traverse Bays.
