Michigan Minute

1918: Ford River Rouge plant launches, evolving into an industrial powerhouse. 1943: Fran Harris breaks radio gender barriers, becoming Michigan's first woman newscaster.

1848: Governor Epaphroditus Ransom inaugurated in Lansing, key developments. 1951: Ruth Thompson, Michigan's first woman in Congress. 2019: Rashida Tlaib, first Palestinian American woman in the US House, unique swearing-in.

On this day in 1920, an infamous pirate known as the Gray Ghost began haunting the Detroit River. Also in 1920, the FBI rounded up suspected communists in Michigan during the Red Raid. In 1974, Coleman Young became Detroit’s first Black mayor, serving for 20 years.

On this day in 2015, Richard Bernstein became Michigan Supreme Court's first blind justice. In 1954, the MSU Spartans won their first Rose Bowl. In 1989, The Temptations were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

On this day in 1899, the 306-foot paddle-wheeler SS Tashmoo was launched in Detroit, becoming a beloved Great Lakes pleasure boat. It sailed for 37 years until it sank after hitting a submerged rock, though all passengers were safely evacuated. In 1983, Fred Dakota opened The Pines, Michigan’s first Native-American owned casino, starting in his garage before expanding to a 3,200-square-foot facili...

On this day in 1933, Governor William Comstock marked the repeal of Prohibition by purchasing the first bottle of whiskey sold in Michigan: Old Taylor Bourbon. In 1998, the Dwarf Lake Iris was designated Michigan’s official wildflower after a public vote, surpassing the more common Large Flower White Trillium, which is found across the U.S. but not primarily in Michigan.

On this day in 1953, the Detroit River Railroad Tunnel switched from electric to diesel-powered locomotives, connecting Michigan to Ontario. In 1902, Houghton, Michigan, became the birthplace of professional hockey when the Portage Lake Hockey Club, the first to pay players, faced the University of Toronto. This game marked the beginning of pro hockey, leading to the formation of the International...

In 1959, MSU Professor Glendon Swarthout, inspired by his students heading to Florida for Spring Break, wrote a book about their experiences. The 1960 book "Where The Boys Are" was turned into a successful MGM film starring Connie Francis, debuting on this day. The film, book, and hit song popularized the Spring Break phenomenon well beyond MSU.

On this day in 1821, Michigan held its first public executions, where two Indigenous men performed a death dance before their hanging. It wasn’t until 1846 that Michigan became the first state to abolish executions for non-treasonous crimes. This week in 2014, the Michigan Citizen, a prominent voice for African-American and progressive communities, published its final edition after 36 years.

In 1913, the first train arrived at Detroit’s Michigan Central Station, the tallest train station in the world at the time. In 1963, Boyne Highlands Resort opened with world-first triple chair ski lifts and an Alpine-style lodge. In 2010, Geraldine Doyle, the real-life Rosie the Riveter, passed away. Her image from Lansing’s factory inspired the iconic "We Can Do It!" poster, symbolizing women's e...

In 1660, Michigan's first recorded Christmas celebration took place near Keweenaw Bay, documented by Father Rene Menard with French-Canadian traders and Huron converts. In 1811, Eber Brock Ward, the first of the Iron Kings, was born and became Detroit's first billionaire. In 1965, snowboarding was invented in Muskegon by engineer Sherman Poppen, who created a snowboard for his daughters, later bec...

In 1913, the Italian Hall disaster occurred in Calumet, Michigan, when a false "fire" alarm during a children’s Christmas party led to a deadly stampede, killing several, including many children. It’s believed the alarm was triggered by a strikebreaker. On this day in 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed, ending the War of 1812 and leading to the return of captured territory, including Fort Mackin...

On this day in 1888, the lumber town of Hermansville, Michigan, near the Wisconsin border, was destroyed by fire. With no fire department and frozen water supplies, the bucket brigade was unable to stop the flames. In 1978, Michigan raised the legal drinking age back to 21 after it had been lowered to 18 for nearly seven years. The change came after an increase in teenage drinking and automobile a...

On this day in 1917, Albert Carl Kaltschmidt was convicted for leading a plot to sabotage Detroit businesses, Windsor, Canada, and a railroad tunnel in Port Huron during World War I. Only one explosion succeeded, and Kaltschmidt was fined $20,000, imprisoned for three years, and deported. In 1984, Bay City’s Madonna scored her first Billboard No. 1 single with Like a Virgin, which stayed at the to...

Born on this day in 1975 in Detroit, journalist and MSU alum Jemele Hill began her career in reporting at Mumford High School before earning a Journalism degree at Michigan State University. Hill rose to fame at ESPN, co-anchoring SportsCenter. In 2019, her tweets criticizing President Trump and MSU Athletics made headlines, but as Hill told WKAR’s Al Martin, it never diminished her Spartan pride.

Born on this day in 1808, Laura Smith Haviland became a prominent abolitionist in Michigan. She and her husband founded the Raisin Institute in 1837, a reform school that admitted children of all races, creeds, and sexes—likely Michigan’s first to admit African Americans. Haviland’s legacy is honored with a statue at the Lenawee County Historical Museum, inscribed as “A Tribute to a Life Consecrat...

In 1887, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra performed its first concert in its subscription season at the Detroit Opera House, featuring works by Liszt, Gottschalk, Berlioz, and Beethoven. It later became the first orchestra to broadcast a performance on the radio. On this day in 1856, celery was introduced to Michigan at a banquet in Kalamazoo to honor firefighters, sparking interest in the crop and...

On this day in 1798, Michigan’s first American election was held in the Northwest Territory, with Solomon Sibley defeating James May amid accusations of voter bribery. In 1908, Lansing introduced the first factory-built, motorized fire engine, a milestone that would soon be adopted by manufacturers, though Detroit didn’t fully retire its horse-drawn fire engines until 1922.

Born on this day in 1808, Kinsley Scott Bingham served as Michigan's 11th governor, U.S. Representative, and Senator. He signed the legislation creating Michigan’s first agricultural college, which later became Michigan State University. In 1909, Detroit’s prominent citizens, with help from the Wright brothers, founded Michigan’s first aero club and conducted Detroit's first airport survey—by car.

On this day in 1819, Michigan’s first surveyed road, Pontiac Road, opened, with wooden planks connecting Detroit to Pontiac, charging tolls for carts and cattle. In 1935, 15,000 people gathered at University of Detroit Stadium for the NFL Championship, where the Detroit Lions defeated the New York Giants 26-7, securing their first championship. The win was a bright spot for Detroit during the Grea...

In 1983, the Detroit Pistons defeated the Denver Nuggets 186-184 in triple overtime, setting an NBA record for the highest-scoring game. Pistons center Bill Laimbeer missed a free throw with seconds left, allowing Isiah Thomas to tie the game and force overtime. In 2003, Michigan State faced the University of Kentucky at Ford Field in Detroit's Basketbowl, setting a record for the most-attended ba...

In 1983, the Detroit Pistons defeated the Denver Nuggets 186-184 in triple overtime, setting an NBA record for the highest-scoring game. Pistons center Bill Laimbeer missed a free throw with seconds left, allowing Isiah Thomas to tie the game and force overtime. In 2003, Michigan State faced the University of Kentucky at Ford Field in Detroit's Basketbowl, setting a record for the most-attended ba...

In 1919, the Coed Tap Dance Strike at the University of Michigan began when women were barred from using the Michigan Union taproom, leading men to dance outside with women as guests. In 1979, Detroit's Joe Louis Arena hosted its inaugural event, a basketball game where the University of Michigan defeated the University of Detroit 85-72. In 2000, General Motors announced it would phase out product...

On this day in 1971, a methane explosion in a Lake Huron tunnel killed 22 men. In 1948, Michigan State University students celebrated the school’s Big Ten admission. In 2014, Rep. Klint Kesto proposed to his girlfriend on the Michigan State House floor, with bipartisan cheers when she said yes.

Born on this day in 1813, Zachariah Chandler, a staunch abolitionist and radical Republican, served as Detroit’s mayor and a four-term Michigan senator. On this day in 1887, the Soo Railroad Line, also known as the Iron Horse, reached Sault Ste. Marie, connecting the town year-round. In 1915, after seven years of production, the millionth Ford Model T rolled off the assembly line at the River Roug...