From its early beginnings in 1750 as the head village of the Wyandot (or Huron) Native Americans to the present, Gibraltar has been influenced by its location along the banks of the Detroit River. For this wetland area, water is and always has been a part of life. With many canals, the city is known as the "Venice of Michigan." Early shipbuilding and lumber mills, rum-running, summer cottages, marinas, and a steel mill have all found their way to Gibraltar's shores. Hunting, fishing, and trapping along the water have served as mainstays. Gibraltar was incorporated as a village in 1954 and as a city in 1961, making it the second smallest city in Michigan at that time. Hy Dahlka was the first village president and a pioneer in wildlife conservation, founding the Michigan United Conservation Club (MUCC), the Waterfowl Festival at the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, and the Monroe Rod and Gun Club.