At the turn of the century, limestone was quarried on the site presently occupied by Harrington Beach State Park. A whole company town existed along the shore of Lake Michigan. Several of the company houses were moved west to the Village of Belgium and can be seen there today. The remains of the pier at which ships loaded can still be seen from the park. Where the quarry was in the early 1900s, today there is a serene lake.
Hikers can follow a nature trail around it.
Besides nature trails, the park offers lakeside beaches and picnic areas and a winding road through woods for cyclists. Harrington Beach State Park is also a wildlife preserve and offers a protected habitat for many species. Deer dwell in its woods and can be seen quietly browsing or gracefully leaping across its fields in morning or evening twilight. Descendants of the original families still live in the area today, and preserve their heritage. The Village is located 7 miles north of the County Seat of Port Washington.