Michigan Minute

On this day in 1900, a dark chapter unfolded for the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa indigenous peoples in Michigan. After years of treaties with the federal government, a land developer illegally claimed their 375 acres, using fabricated back taxes as a pretext. With the help of local law enforcement, the developer forcibly relocated the community, burning their homes. The only surviving st...

Born today in 1940 in Detroit, Dave DeBusschere was a dual-sport athlete who played both Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox and basketball for the Detroit Pistons in 1962. He chose basketball, becoming a coach-player and later joining the New York Knicks, where he played a key role in the NBA-ABA merger in the 1970s. After his passing in 2003, the University of Detroit Mercy honored h...

On this day in 1845, Douglass Houghton, Michigan's state geologist, drowned in Lake Superior. He mapped much of the state and is honored with the namesake of Michigan's tallest waterfall, as well as the city, county, and lake of Houghton. A former mayor of Detroit, he lobbied for federal funding to study the territory's mineral wealth. Tragically, his boat capsized during an exploration, leading t...

On this day in 1921, Art Clokey was born in Detroit. While his name may not be widely recognized, his creation, Gumby, is iconic. Clokey spent his childhood playing with mud, which his family called "gumbo," and after losing his father in a car crash at eight, he drew inspiration from a photo of his dad's unique hairstyle for Gumby's shape. Gumby first appeared in the mid-1950s on the Howdy Doody...

On this day in 1910, an op-ed in the Michigan Daily called for University of Michigan football players to wear numbers on their jerseys, but coach Fielding H. Yost opposed it, fearing it would hinder teamwork. It wasn’t until 1916 that players finally got numbers. Additionally, in 1974, Sandra Thompson was sworn in as Michigan's first Black female trooper, later becoming the first Black woman serg...

On this day, the Detroit Tigers celebrated two World Series victories: their second title in 1945 against the Chicago Cubs and their third in 1968 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Also born today in 1954 was voice-over artist Rob Paulsen from Grand Blanc, known for his iconic roles in Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain, including the popular "Nations of the World" song.

On this day in 1888, Martha Strickland Clark became the first woman to argue before the Michigan Supreme Court, winning a landmark divorce case in Thompson v. Thomson. She went on to be inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 2006. In 1975, KISS brought their rock spectacle to Cadillac, Michigan, performing at the high school’s Homecoming after hearing how their music motivated the foot...

On this day in 1871, fires broke out across Michigan, devastating areas from Holland to Manistee and the Thumb region, claiming over 50 lives. In 2020, the FBI shocked the nation by announcing the arrest of militia members plotting to kidnap Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer. As US Attorney Matthew Schneider stated, "Disagreements should never amount to violence."

Known as "Shipwreck Alley," Thunder Bay near Alpena, Michigan, was designated a National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve today in 2000. In 1927, after five years of construction, the Detroit Institute of Arts opened its doors, marking Detroit as a hub of culture and progress.

On this day in 1972, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore became the first of its kind, showcasing 73,000 acres of stunning natural beauty in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In 1983, Michigan House Republican James Dressel introduced the state’s first bill to protect sexual orientation under civil rights law, a bold move that ultimately cost him his seat.

On this day in 1835, Michigan voters elected their first governor, Stephen T. Mason, along with the first state legislature, while also adopting a groundbreaking constitution that funded public libraries. In 2017, the Detroit Red Wings christened their new home, Little Caesars Arena, with a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild.

Born today in 1894, Buster Keaton, famed silent film star, has ties to Muskegon through the Bluffton Actor’s Colony. Meanwhile, Oscar-winner Charlton Heston, born in 1923, spent much of his childhood in St. Helen, Michigan, acting out scenes from his favorite books in the northern woods.

Born today in 1951, Karen Koch of Monroe, Michigan, became the first female professional hockey player, debuting as a goaltender for the Marquette Iron Rangers. And today in 1980, Somewhere in Time, filmed on Mackinac Island, hit theaters, enchanting audiences with the island’s beauty and sparking a lasting love for the historic Grand Hotel.

On this day in 1873, the cornerstone for Michigan’s third and current state capitol building was laid. Designed by Elijah E. Meyers, the building features a cast iron dome and materials sourced from across the U.S. and abroad. Five years later, the iconic structure was completed and remains a testament to Michigan’s history and craftsmanship.

Born on this day in 1840, Fannie Richards became Detroit’s first Black school teacher and played a crucial role in pioneering early childhood education in Michigan. She opened the state’s first kindergarten and advocated for women's care, leaving an enduring legacy in education and social reform.

Born on this day in 1814, in Vermont, Lucinda Hinsdale Stone moved to Kalamazoo in 1843. She became a leading educator at Kalamazoo College, advocating for co-education and contributing significantly to women's rights and education. Known as the "Mother of Clubs," her work left a lasting impact on Kalamazoo and beyond.

Today in 1975, Detroit launched WGPR-TV, the first TV station in the U.S. owned and operated by Black Americans. Founded by William Venoid Banks, it offered diverse programming and training for Black producers. The station was sold to CBS in 1995, leading to programming changes.

On this day in 1912, Muskegon High defeated Hastings High with a staggering score of 216-0, marking the largest blowout in football history. Also on this day, in 1835, the Democratic Free Press and Michigan Intelligencer, now known as the Detroit Free Press, began publication, becoming Michigan's longest continually published newspaper.

Today in 1962, Michigan's Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant, near Charlevoix, began operation, featuring a promotional video with Ronald Reagan. The plant supported cancer treatments with Cobalt-60 before closing in 1997. Additionally, on this day in 1999, Detroit's Tiger Stadium hosted its final game, where the Tigers defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-2.

On this day in 1981, tennis legend Serena Williams was born in Saginaw, Michigan. Additionally, on this day in 1807, the Denison family fought for freedom in Macomb County. Although they lost initially, their children later escaped to Canada, eventually returning as free Americans due to new legal protections.

Today in 1956, Jamie Hyneman, future MythBusters co-host, was born in Marshall, Michigan. On the same day in 1849, Detroit hosted its second state fair, a major event that drew crowds from all directions and set the stage for Michigan's rich tradition of state fairs.

Today in 1830, Stephen G. Simmons was executed in Detroit for killing his wife, marking Michigan's last death penalty before its abolition in 1846. His moving final address and hymn contributed to changing public opinion, leading Michigan to become the first English-speaking government to abolish capital punishment.

Born on this day in 1949, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Jerry B. Jenkins is a bestselling author best known for the Left Behind series. On this day in 1934, the Detroit Lions played their first NFL game at the University of Detroit, defeating the New York Giants 9-0.

Born on this day in 1941, Ernest Green, a member of the Little Rock Nine, was the first Black student to graduate from Little Rock Central High School in 1958. After attending Michigan State University, where he discovered the anonymous benefactor supporting his education was MSU President John A. Hannah, Green continued his activism and earned degrees in sociology.

On this day in 1969, the University of Detroit Mercy dedicated Gino Testaguzzi’s bronze statue, The Black Madonna and Child. This artwork, commissioned to reflect diversity and inclusivity, was unveiled in a ceremony attended by Archbishop Cardinal Dearden, symbolizing the integration of black culture into the university’s Christian values.