On This Day in History

The Man Behind the Name Some of his descendants knew him as Neyas Bedosegay. Others called him Petosegay, Biidassige, or Peto-osega—names that translate to “Rising Sun” or “Light That is Coming.” The Jesuit missionaries knew him as Ignatius Petosega, and the Smithsonian Institution recognizes him as Chief Pe-to-de-gah. However you say his name, today we remember him as the man behind one of Michigan’s most beloved towns—Petoskey. Chief Ignatius Petoskey was born in 1787 during a family hunting trip near the Manistee River. His father, Antoine Carre (Neaatooshing), a French fur trader, is said to have lifted the newborn to… Read More »

France Claims the Great Lakes On this day in history, June 14, 1671 the French staged one of the most dramatic land grabs in North American history. In a symbolic and theatrical display at Sault Ste. Marie. A gathering at a remote outpost at the crossroads of the Great Lakes, France formally laid claim to an enormous swath of territory. The event, known as The Pageant of the Sault, was a vivid spectacle of colonial ambition, religion, diplomacy, and empire-building. Simon François Daumont, Sieur de St. Lusson, a French officer whose name survives primarily due to this singular event orchestrated… Read More »

When you think of Michigan history, ship traffic might not be the first thing that comes to mind—but it should be. On June 9, 1881, the State of Michigan officially transferred ownership of the Soo Locks and the St. Marys Falls Canal to the United States government, specifically the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). This pivotal moment marked the end of state control and the beginning of federally operated, toll-free passage through one of the most important shipping corridors in North America. The Soo Locks, located in Sault Ste. Marie, were first completed in 1855 to help vessels bypass… Read More »

Queen of the Lakes On this day in history, we celebrate a ship that captured the imagination of Great Lakes boat watchers and maritime enthusiasts from the moment she hit the water: the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, launched on June 7, 1958, in River Rouge, Michigan. Commissioned by Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Edmund Fitzgerald was no ordinary ore boat. At 729 feet long and with a deadweight capacity of 26,000 tons, she was the largest ship on the Great Lakes at the time and the first built to the exact maximum dimensions allowed through the Saint Lawrence Seaway. She… Read More »

A Musket Shot That Changed Medicine Forever On June 6, 1822, what began as a horrific accident inside the American Fur Company store on Mackinac Island became one of the most extraordinary contributions to medical digestive science. Alexis St. Martin, a young French Canadian voyageur, was accidentally shot in the stomach at close range by a musket. The blast tore a hole in his abdomen, exposing both lung and stomach. Most people wouldn’t have survived such trauma—but Alexis wasn’t most people. Dr. William Beaumont Luckily for him—and for the future of medicine—Dr. William Beaumont, the only physician on the island… Read More »

Game, Set, Surprise History is full of battles fought with muskets, swords, and strategy. But, every now and then, a lacrosse stick plays a role too. Read more about the Ojibwe capture of Fort Michilimackinac. On June 2, 1763, a sunny spring day at Fort Michilimackinac turned into a pivotal moment in Pontiac’s Rebellion. The fort is perched on the northern edge of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. British soldiers stationed at the fort were relaxed and unsuspecting. They were enjoying watching a friendly game of baggatiway (an early form of lacrosse) played by local Ojibwe warriors outside the gates. But this… Read More »

Every great state needs a great symbol—and on June 2, 1835, Michigan got just that. On this date, delegates at the Michigan Constitutional Convention formally adopted the Great Seal of the State of Michigan. They chose a striking emblem that’s been representing our identity, values, and geography ever since. Lewis Cass, Designer The designer behind the seal was Lewis Cass. Cass was Michigan’s second (non-acting) territorial governor and a key figure in shaping early Michigan history. Cass based the seal on the Hudson Bay Fur Company’s emblem. He wanted to recognize Michigan’s strong ties to fur trading and frontier life…. Read More »

From Black Lake to Grand Traverse Bay Chief Peter Waukazoo led his band of Ottawa Indians on a remarkable journey northward. From the shores of Black Lake (now Lake Macatawa) near Holland, Michigan, to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. There they would found a new village called Waukazooville. This community would eventually be annexed into what we now know as Northport. The story of the Waukazoo band spans decades of adaptation, cultural preservation, and spiritual exploration. In the early 1830s, their village of about 300 people sat along the Black River. They balanced traditional ways with the pressures and… Read More »

Northern Michigan has a rich and fascinating history, and May has seen its fair share of momentous events. From groundbreaking legal changes to major explorations and historic shipwrecks, these stories offer a glimpse into the past of the Great Lakes State. Here are some key events that happened in Michigan on this day in May. May in Northern Michigan History May 1, 1918 – Michigan Voters Approve Prohibition On this day in history, May 1, 1918, Michigan officially went dry—two years before national prohibition took effect. But banning alcohol didn’t mean people stopped drinking. Instead, speakeasies flourished and bootlegging became… Read More »

Honoring Ezekiel Solomon with a Historical Marker History isn’t always made in grand palaces or famous battlefields—sometimes it begins in a fur trader’s cabin on the edge of the wilderness. On this day in 1964, a historical marker was unveiled in Mackinaw City, honoring Ezekiel Solomon, the first known Jewish resident in Michigan and a remarkable figure of the colonial frontier. Ezekiel Solomon’s story stretches back to 1761, when he made a daring 1,000-mile journey from Montreal to Fort Michilimackinac. His destination was a vital fur trading post nestled at the tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. A Berlin-born Jew, Solomon… Read More »

The Soo Canal Opens the Door to the Great Lakes Before massive freighters glided effortlessly between Lakes Huron and Superior, there were the turbulent St. Marys Rapids. These rapids were a major obstacle for ships. That changed forever on May 31, 1855, when the Soo Canal was completed. The canal made it possible for vessels to bypass the 22-foot elevation difference between the two Great Lakes. Everyone’s heard of the Soo Locks, but they wouldn’t exist without the Soo Canal. The canal paved the way—literally—for Great Lakes commerce as we know it. The project was officially sanctioned by Michigan’s first… Read More »

If you’re a fan of hockey or sports history—or just rooting for the underdog—then Clarence “Taffy” Abel is a name you should know. Born on May 28, 1900, in Sault Ste. Marie, Taffy Abel wasn’t just a big man on the ice—he was a giant in American sports history. Standing 6’1” and weighing up to 250 pounds, Abel was a force of nature in the early days of American hockey. He got his start playing for the Michigan Soo Nationals in 1918, then joined the St. Paul Athletic Club in 1922. First Olympic Winter Games But his big break came… Read More »