1. On November 26, 1781, Colonel John Francis Hamtramck was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He later went on to serve in the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War. In 1796, he was appointed commander of the Detroit garrison, becoming the first military governor of Michigan Territory.

2. In 1827, the first session of the Michigan Territorial Council was held in Detroit. The council was responsible for passing laws and overseeing the administration of the Michigan Territory until it achieved statehood in 1837.

3. On November 26, 1861, the Battle of Bowling Green took place in Kentucky during the American Civil War. Michigan troops, including the 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, played a key role in the Union victory.

4. In 1925, the Michigan State Highway Department was created to oversee the development and maintenance of the state's roadways. Today, the department is known as the Michigan Department of Transportation and is responsible for managing over 9,000 miles of state highways.

5. On November 26, 1938, the Michigan Theater opened in Ann Arbor. The art deco-style theater quickly became a popular destination for film screenings, plays, and concerts. Today, the Michigan Theater is still in operation and is a historic landmark in downtown Ann Arbor.