Michigan Minute

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...

On this day, Gerald R. Ford's stepfather, also named Gerald Ford, was born in Grand Rapids. He raised the future president, instilling values like honesty, hard work, and punctuality. In 1972, Grand Rapids also became the first Michigan city to feature a Black Santa Claus in its Christmas parade. And in 2011, Mittengate occurred when Wisconsin claimed the mitten state title, sparking a Michigan ri...

Born on this day in 1886, Mexican artist Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals, painted in 1933, depict the Motor City and Ford Motor Company, and are still on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts. On this day in 1956, Central Michigan University dedicated the Clarke Historical Library in Mount Pleasant, housing extensive collections on Michigan's history, including the state's first people.

Born on this day in 1932 in Detroit, Ellen Burstyn went on to win the Triple Crown of Acting (Oscar, Emmy, Tony) after starting her career as a dancer and model. On December 7, 1941, Ensign Francis Flaherty of Charlotte, Michigan, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor, sacrificing his life to save his crew aboard the USS Oklahoma.

On this day in 1881, the initial meeting to establish the Detroit Institute of Arts took place, led by Detroit Evening News founder James Scripps. A year later, the museum opened its first exhibit. On December 6, 1928, the University of Michigan became the first Big Ten school to have an indoor hockey rink. Additionally, in 1973, Gerald Ford was sworn in as the first non-elected vice president aft...

On this day in 1858, Chief Okemos died near Portland, prompting the Michigan legislature to rename Hamilton in his honor and dedicate a historical marker to his legacy. Additionally, on this day in 1843, the USS Michigan was launched, patrolling the Great Lakes primarily against timber pirates. After 62 years of service, it was renamed the USS Wolverine, and the prow of the original ship is now di...

On this day in 1844, Michigan Central College opened in Spring Arbor, becoming the first college in Michigan to offer degrees to women. It later moved to Hillsdale and was renamed Hillsdale College, the first American college to ban discrimination in its charter. In 1908, Dr. Alfred Day Hershey was born in Owosso; he won the Nobel Prize in 1969 for his groundbreaking work on DNA, having studied at...

On this day in 1896, Michigan introduced its first Rural Free Delivery (RFD) service in Climax, with routes spanning 25-30 miles and carriers earning $45 a month while providing their own horses and buggies. In 1929, despite the stock market collapse, Ford Motor Company increased employee pay from $5 to $7 a day. Additionally, in 2003, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed a bill recognizing Cesar Cha...

On this day in 1830, Elizabeth Chandler established the Logan Female Anti-slavery Society, Michigan’s first anti-slavery group, supporting the Underground Railroad. In 1927, Ford Motor Company unveiled the Model A, a successful successor to the Model T, priced between $500 and $1,200. In 1975, President Gerald Ford was welcomed in China with the MSU Fight Song during his visit.

On this date in 1955, civil rights hero Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat in the "whites only" section of a bus, sparking a movement against segregation. For her defiance, she faced job loss and death threats. Two years later, she moved to Detroit, where she worked as a secretary for U.S. Representative John Conyers for 23 years. Parks remained a Mich...

Born in 1955 in Lansing, figure skater Alice Cook won silver at the 1976 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and represented the U.S. at the Innsbruck Winter Olympics. After retiring, she became a TV sports reporter and founded She’s Game Sports in 2011, focusing on women sports fans. On this date in 1815, U.S. Surveyor General Edward Tiffin described the Michigan Territory as unsafe and labeled it...

On this day in 1847, Michigan's first telegraph wire was completed along the Michigan Central Railroad Tracks, with early telegrams discussing the Mexican-American War and wheat prices. In 1870, Susan B. Anthony spoke at the Northwestern Woman’s Suffrage Association in Detroit, advocating for women's voting rights and highlighting the injustices faced by women without the vote. Her impactful speec...

Born in 1929, Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records, launching the careers of artists like Marvin Gaye and the Supremes. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1975 American Music Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. In 2016, Michael Jim Delligattie, creator of the "Big Mac Super Sandwich" and a Michigan State University alumnus, passed away; McDonald's se...

On Thanksgiving Eve in 1901, one of Michigan's worst railroad disasters occurred in southern Lenawee County, with official reports citing 23 deaths, though on-site reporters estimated the toll was closer to 100. In 1924, the paper mache and wooden Big Head puppets debuted, becoming a staple of Detroit's Thanksgiving parade. Additionally, in 1960, Gordie Howe, known as Mr. Hockey, scored his 1,000t...

On this day in 1883, Sojourner Truth, the renowned abolitionist and advocate for civil and women’s rights, passed away in Battle Creek, Michigan. Born Isabella Bomfree, she escaped slavery in 1827 and fought for her son’s return from illegal sale. Later, she renamed herself Sojourner Truth and dedicated her life to helping enslaved people escape and promoting civil rights. November 26 is officiall...