1. On August 23, 1835, the city of Detroit officially became a city. Prior to this, Detroit was a village and had been under the control of the French, British, and Americans at different times.

2. On August 23, 1900, the Mackinac Bridge Authority was formed. It would take over 50 years before construction would begin on the bridge, which connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan.

3. August 23, 1914, is the day the SS Eastland capsized in the Chicago River, killing 844 people. Although the disaster did not occur in Michigan, it had a significant impact on the state as many of the victims were from Michigan.

4. On August 23, 1945, the USS Pike was commissioned in the United States Navy. The submarine served in World War II and the Cold War before being decommissioned in 1960.

5. Michigan's first state tree, the Eastern White Pine, was officially designated on August 23, 1955. The tree was chosen for its importance in Michigan's history and economy, as it was once the primary source of lumber for the state.