Shay Hexagon House

The Shay Hexagon House, located at 396 East Main Street in Harbor Springs, Michigan, is a unique historic residence built by Ephraim Shay, the inventor of the Shay locomotive. Constructed in the late 19th century, this hexagonal house features a distinctive metal exterior designed to resemble brick, with a two-story central structure surrounded by four single-story wings. The house served as Shay's home until his death in 1916 and has since been carefully restored after being used for various commercial purposes. It is the last remaining structure of a complex that included a machine shop and waterworks, both of which have been demolished. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, making it a notable site for tourists and researchers interested in industrial history and unique architectural designs.