1. On August 21, 1831, the first Protestant missionary, John Stewart, arrived in Michigan. He worked among the Wyandot people and established the first mission school in the state.

2. The Michigan State Fair, one of the oldest state fairs in the country, was first held on August 21, 1849, in Detroit. The fair showcased agricultural products, machinery, and livestock from across the state.

3. On August 21, 1863, the Confederate submarine, H.L. Hunley, sank the Union blockade ship, USS Housatonic, off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. One of the crew members of the H.L. Hunley was a Michigan native, Conrad Wise Chapman, who later became a well-known artist.

4. The Michigan Naval Militia was established on August 21, 1895, to provide a reserve force for the United States Navy. The militia played a significant role in World War II and continues to serve as a valuable resource for the Navy today.

5. On August 21, 2017, Michigan was one of the 14 states in the path of totality for the total solar eclipse. Thousands of people across the state witnessed the rare astronomical event, which lasted for approximately two minutes.