The Michigan House passed a Women’s Suffrage Resolution on this day in 1912. It was a first major step toward granting Michigan Women the right to vote. The bill was passed by a significant majority in a 75-19 vote. According to a Lansing State Journal article published at the time, "It was a somewhat unexpected victory and […]

15-year old Joan Ottenbacher of Richmond, Michigan, donated her kidney to her twin sister, Janice who was in complete kidney failure. Doctors at University Hospital in Ann Arbor performed the surgery on this day in 1964. It was the first human transplant operation in Michigan history. The process took approximately 6 hours and included 16 doctors.

Now, it may be hard to remember a time now when this wasn't the norm, but the Michigan law allowing vehicles to turn right on a red light didn't go into effect until this day in 1976. Vehicles must come to a complete stop at a red light and ensure that there is not a sign prohibiting […]

Voters approved Michigan’s fourth state constitution on this date in 1963. It replaced the 1908 constitution, changing the terms of the governor and state senators to 4 years, and advancing civil rights protection. It is still in place today.

The first of 850,000 Coho salmon were planted in the Platte River in Benzie County on this day in 1966. The salmon were introduced to help the state deal with alewives that had entered the lakes through the Saint Lawrence Seaway. The practice would stimulate the state's fishing economy for decades to come.

Nannette B. Gardner, a wealthy Detroit widow, became the first woman to vote in a Detroit election on this day in 1871. It would be nearly half a century before another woman would be allowed to do the same. She presented the inspectors with flowers.

On this day in 1971, Gordie Howe played his last game as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. During his 25-year career with the team, Mr. Hockey, as he was known, led them to four Stanley Cup victories and won six Hart Trophies as the NHL's most valuable player.

Daniel Boone was brought to Detroit as a prisoner of war by the Shawnee Indians on this day in 1778. He was released ten days later.

On this day in 1917, the United States entered World War 1. During the war Michigan contributed over 135,000 service men and women and suffered over 5,000 casualties.

Jack Morris, became the fourth Tigers pitches to throw a no-hitter at Chicago's Comsikey Park on this day in 1984. He threw 120 pitches, striking out 8 batters. The team would go one to win the World Series later that year.

On this day in 1956, streetcars stopped operating in Detroit. The Woodward line, which was the last in the state to remain active, dated back to 1863. The last day included a parade to honor the transporation legacy, which would be replaced by buses the next day. The QLine now runs along a similar route as the

Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia surrendered to Union forces, including several Michigan Cavalry regiments, on this day in 1865.Of the 90,000 Michigan men that fought in the Civil War, over 14,000 died.

Michigan was the first state to vote for Prohibition. It also became the first state to ratify the 18th Amendment repealing Prohibition on this day in 1933, paving the way for the robust beer, wine, and spirit industries of today.

More than 53 people were killed and 800 were injured when 12 tornadoes touched down in Michigan on this day in 1965, part of the worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history.

The world learned that Jonas Salk had developed an effective vaccination against polio on this day in 1955 at a press conference at U of M. Dr. Thomas Francis Jr., who mentored Salk, presented his findings after extensive field trials of Salk’s vaccine in which more than 1.8 million children participated. It was one of the biggest […]

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks on this day in 1996 to set the single season win record, previously held by the Montreal Canadiens. The mark of 62 wins still stands.

Originally founded as Tamla Records the prior year, Barry Gordy's music company was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on this day in 1960. Under the newly-named label, the company developed a style of soul music with a distinct pop influence that would affectionaly be known as the Motown Sound, even today.

It's almost impossible to imagine the skyline of Detroit without it now. The Renaissance Center opened to the public on this day in 1977. Then Vice President, Walter Mondale, and comedian, Bob Hope, were among the dignitaries in attendance during the 3-day opening celebration of the $337 million development project.

Harriet Quimby of Arcadia Township became the first woman to pilot an aircraft across the English Channel on this day in 1912. In 2004, she was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

The public was introduced to the Ford Mustang at the World's Fair on this day in 1964. That same day, the new car also debuted in Ford showrooms across America and almost 22,000 Mustangs were immediately snapped up by buyers.

Hundreds of craters and geysers, some reportedly shooting mud six-feet high, mysteriously appeared around the town of Williamsburg on this day in 1973. They forced the evacuation of at least 50 families, as it was feared there might be an explosion. Geologists later determined they had been created by a gas leak.

On this day in 1851, a posse from the Wayne County sheriff’s office rode west in the middle of the night to the village of Michigan Center and arrested 44 men. The incident that provoked the trial, known as “The Great Railroad Conspiracy,”pitted a group of Jackson County farmers against the Michigan Central Railroad. The railroad won.

On this day in 1909, the Wayne County laid the world's first mile of concrete highway on Woodward between Six and Seven Mile Roads. It cost $13,537. From far and near road-builders came to see how concrete stood up under heavy traffic. The success of the experiment led to the development of modern automobile highways.

Luciano Pavrotti performed to a crowd of over 2,700 people at the opening of the Detroit Opera House on this day in 1996. The restoration project cost more than $35 million and consisted of restoring the old Grand Circus Theatre to its 1920s glory in order to provide a permanent home for the Michigan Opera Theatre.

The Michigan and Huron Institute, a Baptist college, was granted a charter from the territorial legislature on this day in 1833. In 1855 the school changed its name to Kalamazoo College. The liberal arts school is affectionately known as "K College."

The Detroit Industry Murals, a series of frescoes by the Mexican artist Diego Rivera, were granted National Historic Landmark status on this day in 2004. Painted between 1932-33, the 27 panels depicting workers at the Ford Rouge Plant adorn the walls of the Detroit Institute of Arts.  

The first M-3 tank built by Chrysler rolled off the assembly line and was delivered to the U.S. Army on this day in 1941. By the end of WWII Chrysler had built 22,207 tanks, helping Detroit earn the nickname Arsenal of Democracy.

The St. Lawrence Seaway opened on this day in 1959. This 400-mile waterway connected Michigan to the Atlantic Ocean bringing trade to the mdiwest, and was considered to be the most important transportation route in America since since the railroads connected east and west.

On this day in 1837, almost a quarter of a century prior to the Civil War, the Anti-Slavery Society was founded in Detroit by white people who vowed to fight against slavery across America.

The Provincial Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons in New York issued a charter to a Masonic lodge in Detroit on this day in 1764. Zion Lodge of Masons, No. 1 was the first west of the Alleghenies. granted to Masons in Detroit on this day in 1764. The Detroit Masons first adopted the name […]

Built by the Detroit Shipbuilding Company just five years prior, the S.S. Benjamin Noble sank in Lake Superior on this day in 1914. The lake freighter was hauling heavy railroad ties at the time. The entire crew was lost.

Legendary singer, Aretha Franklin, released her hit single Respect on this day in 1967. R-E-S-P-E-C-T became an anthem of the feminist movement, and the record earned two Grammy Awards for the Queen of Soul.

Prices soared at bars and liquor stores on this day in 1918, as people prepared for a statewide prohibition of alcohol sales to take effect the next day. The country would soon follow and the illegal import and export of alcohol from Canada would become Detroit's second largest industry after cars.