1. On May 26, 1952, the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie opened for the shipping season. The locks, which connect Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes, are crucial for transporting goods and are a key part of Michigan's economy.
2. In 1868, the first African American graduate of the University of Michigan, William J. Simmons, was born in Mississippi. Simmons went on to become a prominent educator and civil rights activist, as well as the founder of the second incarnation of the Ku Klux Klan.
3. On May 26, 1937, the Michigan State Police were officially organized. Today, the force is responsible for enforcing state laws, investigating crime, and providing support to communities throughout Michigan.
4. In 1915, the Michigan state legislature passed a bill establishing the state's first park commission. This eventually led to the creation of Michigan's many state parks, which are now popular recreational destinations for residents and tourists alike.
5. On May 26, 1894, the Detroit Tigers, one of Michigan's oldest and most beloved sports teams, played their first home game in the newly-constructed Bennett Park. The Tigers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 17-3 in their debut.