On This Day in History

Foundations of Faith Northern Michigan’s spiritual roots trace back over 350 years to the shores of the St. Marys River. On May 26, 1668, Jesuit missionaries constructed St. Mary’s Church. The church was the first permanent wooden structure in what would become the state of Michigan. This marked the humble beginnings of what is now known as the Holy Name of Mary Proto-Cathedra. St. Mary’s is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the United States. Sault Ste. Marie, already a meeting place for Indigenous peoples, became a mission outpost for European clergy aiming to spread the faith throughout the… Read More »

Exploring the Unknown – Michigan’s Upper Peninsula In the early 1800s, Michigan had a bit of an image problem. The eastern folks weren’t eager to settle there—rumors of swampy land, poor soil, and an unpleasant climate didn’t exactly scream “dream homestead.” So Michigan Territorial Governor Lewis Cass decided to do something about it. On May 24, 1820, Cass teamed up with geologist Henry Schoolcraft and launched the first major American expedition to explore Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, aiming to rewrite the narrative—and maybe pick up a few useful minerals along the way. The Cass/Schoolcraft Expedition was more than just a sightseeing… Read More »

Celebrating a Michigan Treasure There are few names as beloved in Michigan’s artistic and literary circles as Gwen Frostic. And on May 23, 1978, that admiration was made official when Governor William Milliken declared it Gwen Frostic Day across the state. The designation celebrated not only her incredible linocut block prints and poetic musings but also her deep love for Michigan’s natural beauty. Born April 26, 1906, in Sandusky, Michigan, Sara Gwendolen Frostic lived a remarkable life that fused creativity, resilience, and nature. Despite facing physical challenges due to a childhood illness, Gwen’s spirit and determination shaped her into one… Read More »

Michigan’s Baby County Let’s rewind to May 21, 1891—a day that marked the end of county-making in Michigan’s history books. On this day, the state officially established its 83rd and final county: Dickinson County, carved from parts of Marquette, Menominee, and Iron counties in the Upper Peninsula. Youngest in the lineup but rich in industry and heritage, Dickinson County tells a story of iron, lumber, politics, and perseverance. Named after Donald M. Dickinson, who served as U.S. Postmaster General under President Grover Cleveland, the county was created by Public Act 89 of 1891, which was signed into law on May… Read More »

Grand Island’s Journey to Recreation Area Status Tucked just off the shores of Munising in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Grand Island is a place of rugged cliffs, lush forests, and serene lake views. On May 17, 1990, this stunning Lake Superior island officially earned its place as a National Recreation Area. Its status as a haven for outdoor lovers and history buffs alike firmly established. The island, covering about 13,500 acres within the Hiawatha National Forest, was purchased by the U.S. Forest Service from Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company. This move turned a once-private industrial holding into a publicly accessible natural retreat…. Read More »

The 1881 Discovery That Sparked Michigan’s Mining Dreams If you think Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is only famous for copper and iron, think again. On this day in history—May 17, 1881—Julius Ropes, a local chemist from Marquette, unearthed something that would ignite dreams of fortune and glory: gold. Ropes had been studying rock samples in the area and noticed traces of gold and silver. When he discovered a gold-bearing quartz vein just outside Ishpeming, it wasn’t long before the Ropes Gold and Silver Company was formed and the U.P. got its very own gold rush. The Ropes Mine was the only… Read More »

The Journey Begins On May 17, 1673, two unlikely adventurers—Jesuit missionary Father Jacques Marquette and French-Canadian fur trader Louis Joliet—pushed off from St. Ignace in canoes, beginning one of the most significant exploration journeys in North American history. Accompanied by five voyageurs and guided by Indigenous knowledge, their mission was to find and map the mighty river that Native peoples called the Messipi—“the Great River.” Their journey wasn’t just about maps and discovery. It was about connecting a continent. With little more than determination, their canoes, and guidance from Native tribes, they ventured across what would become Wisconsin and followed… Read More »

Defending His Honor History has its share of courtroom drama, but few moments are quite as delightfully petty—and noble—as when former President Theodore Roosevelt rolled into Marquette, Michigan, on May 13, 1913, to defend his honor. The charge? He was a drunk and a liar—at least, that’s what George Newett, editor of the Iron Ore newspaper in Ishpeming, claimed. Roosevelt, never one to take things lying down (unless he was posing for a hunt), took legal action. The scene was set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where Roosevelt traveled specifically to testify in a libel suit he’d filed against Newett. The… Read More »

Lost to the Storm Lake Superior has a long, dark history of claiming ships, sailors, and stories—many of which remain mysteries beneath her cold waves. But on this day in history, May 13, 1899, the sinking of the Schooner Nelson was one of those stories was written in heartbreak and heavy weather. The schooner Nelson, a 199-foot, three-masted vessel built in 1866, sank near Grand Marais, Michigan, taking her entire crew, including the captain’s wife and infant child, down with her. The Nelson was being towed west by Captain White’s steamer alongside the Mary B. Mitchell. The ships were caught… Read More »

Michigan Becomes a Pioneer in Justice Reform On May 4, 1846, Michigan did something no other English-speaking government had ever done—it outlawed the death penalty for all crimes except treason. It was a bold and groundbreaking decision, marking a major step toward criminal justice reform not just in the U.S., but around the world. This move made Michigan the first state in the United States to legally reject capital punishment for most crimes, signaling a shift toward more humane and rehabilitative approaches to justice. Though the law wouldn’t take effect until March 1, 1847, the decision itself made waves—and it… Read More »

A Legacy of Conservation and Hard Work In the depths of the Great Depression, with unemployment at staggering levels, President Franklin D. Roosevelt launched the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as part of his New Deal efforts to put young men to work while preserving the country’s natural resources. On May 2, 1933, two hundred young men from Detroit and Hamtramck arrived in Chippewa County. They came to establish Camp Raco, Michigan’s very first CCC facility. This marked the beginning of a program that would leave a lasting impact on Michigan’s forests, parks, and conservation efforts. Building More Than Just Camps… Read More »

The Beginning of Prohibition On April 30, 1918, the last legal drinks were poured in Michigan, marking the start of state-wide prohibition on May 1, 1918. A full two years before national prohibition took effect. This wasn’t an overnight shift, though. By 1911, most of Michigan was already dry due to county-level bans, and in 1916, voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment outlawing alcohol entirely. The result? A new era of bootlegging, speakeasies, and a thriving underground liquor trade. While prohibitionists believed banning alcohol would lead to a more moral and orderly society, the reality was much different. Saloons and… Read More »