Tawas Bay's history includes the original Iosco County Courthouse, built in 1869 of native white pine with its basement used as the jail, later replaced by the existing county building in 1954. The Tewas Coast Guard Station on Tawas Point was originally constructed in 1876, and the chief was shown there in 1964 conducting an inspection of personnel. The historic Tawas Point Light House, also originally constructed on Tawas Point in 1876, is open seasonally for tours. The Western States was brought to Tawas City in 1955 to serve as a floating hotel, but the venture encountered issues with permits under the state submerged lands act. In 1937, Lake Street in Tewas City featured distinctive step-down curbs, and those businesses stood across from Shoreline Park, which had once been Tawas City's central business district. Earlier development included the Charles H. Whittemore steam sawmill on the Tawas River in 1854; Whittemore established the first property lines in Tawas City and other areas of Iosco County in 1857. By 1868, Mathews Street included Minor's boot shop and Dunn's Saloon. In 1880, a Porter locomotive backed across the Tawas River at First Street with logs bound for the Prescott sawmill on the bay just north of Shoreline Park, and the Lake Huron and Southwestern Railroad extended from Tawas City to the AuGres River.