Michigan has played an incredible role in the survival of our nation and in the progression of the world. It was a last stop on the Underground Railroad, and nearly 90,000 Michiganders fought for the Union Army. Henry Ford’s assembly line and generous wages changed the way goods are produced. Detroit put the world on wheels and became the Arsenal of Democracy during World War II. Hitsville USA created the soundtrack of the 60s and 70s and factory workers fought for rights that nearly every American worker enjoys today.
Michigan’s Economic History
18th Century
It’s hard to believe that something that happened over ten thousand years ago, could have a significant affect on the economy today, but that is absolutely true in the case of what is now known
19th Century
The 19th century was marked by transportation advancements in and around the Great Lakes, and an unprecedented increase in population. At the start of the century there were less than 5,000 documented residents in the
20th Century
The 1900s was an era of remarkable change. It saw the world at war, mankind landing on the moon, and the creation of the Internet. Events like those forever changed the world, and certainly impacted
21st Century
In many ways the 21st century in Michigan has been driven by a need to recover, revitalize, and reinvent. At the start of the millennium the state was plagued with many challenges brought on by
Latest Past Events
The 1st Corvette rolls off the assembly line
The first Corvette, a two-seater sports car that would become an American icon, rolled off the assembly line on this day in 1953 at a Chevrolet plant in Flint, Michigan. Tony Kleiber, a worker on the assembly line, was given the privilege of driving the now-historic car off the line. It was one of just 300 Corvettes made
MSU student becomes 1st black contestant in Miss Michigan pageant
On this day in 1966, Michigan State University sophomore, Lucille Annette Abrams became the first black contestant ever to enter the Miss Michigan pageant. The 20-year old contestant who played piano and violin, spoke French, and planned to study international law, served as Miss Lansing. She was sponsored by the Lansing Junior Chamber of Commerce.
15,000 celebrate Kellogg’s with a bowl of cereal in Battle Creek
A whopping 15,000 people turned out on a Thursday in the small town of Battle Creek, just to have a bowl of cereal at the world's longest breakfast table. The event was in honor of Kellogg's Golden Jubilee on this day in 1965. The tradition has continued in "Cereal City" ever since and now draws an estimated
