On This Day in History

Rolling Into History March 29, 2013, was a big day—literally—for Michigan Technological University. On that chilly spring day, a group of determined students took to the softball field with a singular mission: reclaim their Guinness World Record for the largest snowball ever made. With 30 students rolling in unison and help from professional surveyors, they spent two and a half grueling hours crafting a giant snowball that would go down in history. When the final measurements were taken, the giant snowball stood at an impressive 32.94 feet in circumference, 10.45 feet in diameter, and 9.28 feet tall. Estimates put its… Read More »

1836 Treaty of Washington A significant agreement was signed in Washington, D.C. on March 28, 1836. The agreement was between the United States and several Anishinaabe leaders from Michigan. The Treaty of Washington resulted in the cession of over one-third of Michigan’s land. This spanned the eastern Upper Peninsula and much of the northwestern Lower Peninsula. In return, the tribes retained their rights to hunt and fish on the lands and waters they had called home for generations. The impact of this treaty would be felt for over a century. In the 1960s, Michigan imposed strict regulations on commercial fishing,… Read More »

William Grawn Milliken born in Traverse City On this day in history, March 26, 1922, William Grawn Milliken was born in Traverse City. A man of integrity, civility, and dedication to public service, Milliken left an enduring mark on the state. He served as Michigan’s longest-tenured governor from 1969 to 1983. His leadership spanned a transformative period in Michigan’s history. He navigated economic challenges, environmental reforms, and shifting political landscapes. Path to Politics Milliken’s path to politics was deeply rooted in his family’s legacy. His father, James T Milliken, was a mayor of Traverse City as well as a Michigan… Read More »

March 22, 1878 On this day in 1878, one of the final mass nestings of the passenger pigeon took place near Petoskey, Michigan. Once numbering in the billions, these birds were a dominant presence in North America. They would darken the skies for hours as their flocks passed overhead. Early explorers and settlers frequently marveled at their abundance. Samuel de Champlain in 1605 described “countless numbers” and Cotton Mather witnessed a flight that took hours to pass. But by the late 19th century, relentless hunting and habitat destruction had pushed them to the brink of extinction. Petoskey Nesting The Petoskey… Read More »

A Stage for the Ages On this day in history, March 20, 1900, the Calumet Theatre opened its doors to an eager audience. The first show was a touring Broadway production of The Highwayman by Reginald DeKoven and Harry B. Smith. It was a momentous occasion for the village of Calumet, a community built on copper and ambition. As the first municipally built theater in the country, the Calumet Theatre was more than just a venue; it was a declaration that this mining town could rival the cultural sophistication of major cities. At the turn of the 20th century, Calumet was… Read More »

Michigan’s Copper Country Boomtown Houghton County, nestled in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, has a history as rich as the copper veins. Those veins once made it a national mining powerhouse. From its earliest settlers in the 1840s to its booming copper industry after the Civil War, this county played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s economy and culture. The Rise of Copper Country On March 19, 1845 Houghton County was organized. Named after Douglass Houghton, Michigan’s first state geologist, the county quickly grew into the heart of the Copper Country. By the 1870s, the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company was… Read More »

The Short-Lived County Name That Didn’t Stick March 19, 1863, the people of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula successfully petitioned to rename Bleeker County to Menominee County. If you’ve never heard of Bleeker County, you’re not alone. The county only existed for two years and four days before locals decided they weren’t too fond of the name. Menominee County (/məˈnɒməni/ mə-NAH-mə-nee) is a county located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,502. The county seat is Menominee. Bleeker County to Menominee County Originally created in 1861 from part of Delta County, Bleeker County was officially organized… Read More »

A Legacy in Clay In the world of American ceramics, few names carry the weight of Mary Chase Perry Stratton. Born March 15, 1867 in Hancock, Michigan, she transformed a love of art and craftsmanship into one of the most enduring legacies in architectural ceramics: Pewabic Pottery. From her early days exploring the Upper Peninsula’s copper mines to her later years shaping Detroit’s artistic landscape, Stratton’s impact on ceramic arts is impossible to ignore. Her artistic journey began in Detroit, where she took her first formal art classes before heading to the Art Academy of Cincinnati. There, she studied under… Read More »

Michigan’s Northernmost Gem with a Rich Past On this day in history, Keweenaw County was officially organized. The copper rush that shaped Michigan’s northernmost county was in full swing and folks came to work! Keweenaw County, a rugged and beautiful stretch of the Upper Peninsula, saw thousands of miners, investors, and adventurers flock to its shores in the 1840s in search of valuable copper. While the industry has faded, its rich history lives on in the region’s preserved mining towns, maritime landmarks, and stunning landscapes. Tucked away in the rugged Upper Peninsula, Keweenaw County is Michigan’s northernmost and least populated… Read More »

A History of Names, Settlers, and Struggles On this day in history, April 1, 1840, Michigan’s legislature created what was originally called Tonedagana County—later renamed Emmet County in 1843. From its deep Odawa roots to a brief period under Mormon rule, Emmet County’s past is filled with fascinating twists. Emmet County, one of Michigan’s northernmost counties, has a history as rich as its scenic landscapes. From its early days as an Odawa stronghold to its brief time under Mormon rule, the county has seen its fair share of change, controversy, and resilience. From Tonedagana to Emmet On April 1, 1840,… Read More »

A Wartime Feat of Engineering During World War II, as larger freighters carried vital ore for the war effort, it became clear that the aging Weitzel Lock in Sault Ste. Marie was no longer up to the task. While the St. Mary’s River had been dredged to 24 feet in the 1930s, the Poe and Sabin Locks could only handle vessels with a maximum draft of 20 feet. To keep crucial supplies moving, Congress approved the construction of a new, longer, and deeper lock on March 7, 1942. The new lock would be named The MacArthur Lock after General Douglas… Read More »

A Tall Tale of Timber and Tradition Michigan’s eastern white pine isn’t just a towering beauty—it’s a symbol of the state’s rich history. Officially designated as the state tree on March 4, 1955, this giant of the forest played a central role in Michigan’s logging boom, which made the state the national leader in lumber production during the late 19th century. The Eastern White Pine The eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) can reach heights of 150 feet and grow up to 40 inches in diameter. In Michigan’s early days, these massive trees covered vast stretches of land, particularly in the… Read More »