Today In History
5 Fun Facts About December 27 In Michigan History
1. In 1842, Michigan's first state capitol building was destroyed by fire on December 27. The building was located in Detroit and was only five years old at the time. 2. On December 27, 1932, the Detroit Lions won their first NFL championship. They defeated the Chicago Bears in the...
5 Fun Facts About December 26 In Michigan History
1. In 1776, the British took control of the fort at Detroit during the Revolutionary War, leading to a nearly three-year occupation. 2. December 26, 1867 marked the founding of the University of Michigan's School of Dentistry, the first dental school in the world to be affiliated with a university....
5 Fun Facts About December 25 In Michigan History
1. The first recorded celebration of Christmas in Michigan was in 1679, when French explorer and missionary Father Jacques Marquette held a midnight mass on the shore of the St. Joseph River near present-day Niles. 2. In 1825, the first Christmas tree in Michigan was reportedly lit by German settler...
5 Fun Facts About December 24 In Michigan History
1. On December 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed, officially ending the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. Although the treaty was signed in Europe, it had a significant impact on Michigan's history, as the territory had been a major battleground during the war....
5 Fun Facts About December 23 In Michigan History
1. In 1823, the Michigan Territorial Council passed a resolution to establish the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. This became the first publicly funded university in the United States and has since become one of the most prestigious universities in the world. 2. In 1842, the Detroit Public Library...
5 Fun Facts About December 22 In Michigan History
1. On December 22, 1961, the University of Michigan football team won their first-ever Rose Bowl game, defeating the University of California, 49-0. 2. December 22, 1873, marks the day the first narrow gauge railroad in Michigan was opened in Grand Rapids. 3. In 1857, on December 22, the University...
5 Fun Facts About December 21 In Michigan History
1. On December 21, 1826, Michigan's first state constitution was ratified, paving the way for Michigan's eventual admission into the Union in 1837. The constitution established the state's government structure and enshrined certain rights for citizens. 2. In 1913, the Michigan State Capitol Building was dedicated on December 21. The...
5 Fun Facts About December 20 In Michigan History
1. The Mackinac Bridge opened to traffic on December 20, 1957. The bridge spans the Straits of Mackinac, connecting the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. 2. On December 20, 1836, Michigan was admitted to the Union as the 26th state. This marked the end of a long territorial period...
5 Fun Facts About December 19 In Michigan History
1. On December 19, 1848, Michigan became the first state in the US to abolish the death penalty for all crimes except treason. 2. The Michigan Wolverines won their first Rose Bowl on December 19, 1998, beating the Washington State Cougars 21-16. 3. On December 19, 1981, Detroit resident Mary...
5 Fun Facts About December 18 In Michigan History
1. On December 18, 1874, the University of Michigan established its School of Pharmacy. It was the first pharmacy school in a public university in the United States. 2. The Detroit Pistons played their first game in the Pontiac Silverdome on December 18, 1978. They defeated the New Orleans Jazz...
5 Fun Facts About December 17 In Michigan History
1. In 1903, the Wright Brothers made their first successful flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. This historic event inspired a group of Michigan aviation enthusiasts to form the Detroit Aero Club, which eventually became the oldest aeronautical organization in the nation. 2. In 1913, the Ford Motor Company introduced...
5 Fun Facts About December 16 In Michigan History
1. On December 16, 1837, Michigan's first governor, Stevens T. Mason, was inaugurated in Detroit. Mason was just 24 years old at the time, making him the youngest governor in U.S. history. 2. The University of Michigan, one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the country, was founded...