Barcelona Harbor's history spans from the first European exploration of the harbor and creek in 1679, through the arrival of first settlers in 1802 and John McMahan's construction of a gristmill and sawmill on Chautauqua Creek in 1804, to the beginning of steamboat service in 1818 and the building of a lighthouse in 1829. French troops had earlier cut a portage trail in 1753 along an old Native American route to Chautauqua Lake, opening the Ohio Valley to invasion from Canada. Commercial fishing began in earnest in 1852 and became a thriving industry, with catches including herring, whitefish, bass, suckers, and 50-pound sturgeon, while whitefish and ellpout were harvested for fish oil after Philimin Jackway started that business about 1870. The harbor also developed as a commercial port, with local businessmen forming the Barcelona Company, building a hotel and five stores, and fishing camps and warehouses lining the bay shore, but railroad competition eventually overtook the port and trolley service ended in 1913. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1855, re-lighted in 1962, and the Corps of Engineers built the Daniel Reed breakwall and pier in 1960, realizing a long-held goal of providing a harbor of refuge. Commercial fishing declined over time, the last commercial fishing boat was sold in 1971, and the harbor shifted largely to recreational fishing and boating, marked by the first Harbor Day celebration in 1982.