November 1, 1957
On November 1, 1957, the Mackinac Bridge opened to traffic as scheduled. Many challenges were overcame that were the result of marine construction in the turbulent Straits of Mackinac.
This engineering marvel spans 26,372 feet and connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, linking Lake Michigan to Lake Huron. The bridge is 5 miles long and the roadway is 199 feet above the water at midspan. Just a year after its completion, the bridge earned recognition as the world’s longest suspension bridge between anchorages. In 1998, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan became the longest in the world, stretching 12,826 feet when measured by total suspended length. The Mackinac Bridge is now 7th. This was a title it proudly held for many years. The Mackinac Bridge has since become an iconic symbol of Michigan. The bridge attracts visitors from near and far, and continues to play a vital role in the state’s transportation network.
November 1, 1966
On November 1, 1966, the U.S. Post Office issued a beautiful five-cent multicolored Christmas stamp featuring a Madonna and child. The release of the stamp was from the charming town of Christmas, Michigan! 🎁📬 This iconic stamp became a beloved holiday symbol, celebrating the spirit of the season.
November 1, 1973
The longest expressway in Michigan, I-75, was completed. It stretched 395 miles from the Ohio border near Toledo all the way to Sault Ste. Marie. This iconic highway connects the state from top to bottom. Road trips and travel across Michigan became faster and easier.
November 2, 1924
On November 2, 1924, history was made when Cora Reynolds Anderson, became the first woman elected to the Michigan House of Representatives! She served one term from 1925 to 1926. She was believed to be the only Native American woman elected to the Michigan House or Senate. Anderson’s legacy continues to inspire.
November 2, 1973
Official: Michigander it is! On November 2, 2017, the state Legislature made it clear—Michigander is the official term for Michigan residents! A unanimous vote in both the House and Senate updated a 1913 law, striking out “Michiganian” in favor of “Michigander” in the Michigan Historical Commission statute. Now, we all have a united identity as proud Michiganders!
November 3, 1972
On November 3, 1972, history was made on Mackinac Island when voters approved the use of snowmobiles. This marked the first motor-powered vehicles allowed on the island since 1949!
November 4, 1975
On November 4, 1975, Marquette and Iron Mountain residents had a unique chance to secede from Michigan. There was a proposal to form the 51st state! However, Michiganders weren’t on board. Voters shut down the proposal 1,841-770 in Marquette and 1,601-745 in Iron Mountain. The Upper Peninsula remained a proud part of Michigan!
November 7, 1972
On November 7, 1972, voters approved Daylight Savings Time. We now have an extra hour of evening sunlight from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October! This change brightened up Michigan evenings and extended those beautiful summer days.
November 10, 1975
On November 10, 1975, tragedy struck as the 587-foot long Edmund Fitzgerald sank during a storm on Lake Superior. All 28 men aboard were lost. This somber event remains one of the most haunting maritime disasters in Great Lakes history.
November 12, 1998
On November 12, 1998, His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Stefan of Austria, Prince of Hungary, Bohemia, and Tuscany, passed away. Born into European royalty, he was a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. He was eldest child and son of Archduke Anton of Austria and his wife Princess Ileana of Romania. A great-great grandson of Queen Victoria, Tsar Alexander II, Queen Maria II of Portugal, and King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies.
Archduke Stefan’s incredible life journey took him from Bran Castle in Romania to the United States. Where he graduated from M.I.T., became a U.S. citizen and worked for General Motors. He is laid to rest alongside his wife, Mary Jerrine Soper, in the peaceful St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in Leelanau County in Northern Michigan.
November 14, 1828
On November 14, 1828, a significant moment in Michigan’s history occurred as the British surrendered their last post, marking the official occupation of Drummond Island by the United States! Following orders from Quebec on October 6, 1828, this transfer paved the way for American settlement. Originally recorded as First Manitoulin Island and Drummond’s Island, this region holds a rich historical legacy.
November 20, 2018
On November 20, 2018, the United States Postal Service unveiled a beautiful stamp featuring the Ontonagon River, a stunning 25-mile waterway flowing through Michigan’s Western U.P. to Lake Superior! The Ontonagon River is one of 12 featured in this series, which was released as part of the USPS 2019 Forever Stamp lineup. Since 1847, the stamp program has highlighted unique aspects of American history and culture.
November 22, 1975
On November 22, 1975, a significant milestone in Michigan sports history was achieved with the first MHSSA state high school football championship games! The winners were Livonia Franklin in Class A, Dearborn Divine Child in Class B, Ishpeming in Class C, and Crystal Falls in Class D. This event marked the beginning of a tradition celebrating high school football excellence in Michigan!
November 23, 1953
On November 23, 1953, an Air Force jet mysteriously disappeared over Lake Superior while pursuing a UFO. This intriguing incident remains a part of Michigan’s rich history of unexplained phenomena and adds to the lore surrounding unidentified flying objects. What really happened that day?
November 24, 1968
On November 24, 1968, Ernest Hemingway’s family cottage, “Windemere,” on Walloon Lake in Emmet County, was officially added to the list of national historic landmarks. Built by Hemingway’s father in 1899, this charming cottage is where the famous author spent nearly all his summers during his youth, igniting his lifelong passions for hunting and fishing.
It was here that Hemingway penned some of his earliest serious fiction, creating timeless works such as *The Sun Also Rises* (1926), *A Farewell to Arms* (1929), *For Whom the Bell Tolls* (1940), and *The Old Man and the Sea* (1952). This significant landmark stands as a testament to Hemingway’s lasting legacy in literature.
November 28, 1905
On November 27-28, 1905, the Great Lakes were engulfed by the Mataafa Storm. This was a weather event that became a haunting reminder of nature’s ferocity. With its powerful winds and heavy snowfall, this storm led to the destruction of 29 ships and claimed the lives of 36 seamen.
November 30, 1885
On November 30, 1885, the Traverse City State Hospital opened its doors, marking a significant milestone in mental health care in Michigan. Located on a sprawling 600-acre campus, this facility was one of several state hospitals established to provide care for individuals with mental health challenges during a time when such conditions were often misunderstood and stigmatized.
The hospital played a crucial role in advancing the treatment of mental illness and served the community for over a century. Today, the site is recognized for its historical significance and is a reminder of the evolution of mental health care.
November 30, 1926
On November 30, 1926, the steel steamer City of Bangor, carrying a crew of 29 and loaded with 248 brand-new cars valued at approximately $250,000 (around $3.6 million today), met a tragic fate in a blizzard off the Keweenaw Peninsula while en route from Detroit to Duluth.
In the freezing dark, the crew launched a lifeboat and braved deep snow drifts, desperately searching for shelter. Their luck turned when the Timothy Maytham, another ship stranded in the storm, set in motion their rescue days later. The crew was eventually found by Captain Anthony Glaza and the Coast Guard, who brought them safely to Eagle Harbor, though some suffered from frostbite and exposure.
What turned this rescue story into a saga was the fate of the cargo. Walter Chrysler wasn’t about to abandon his gleaming cars on the frozen shoreline. Salvors eventually built an ice ramp to recover the vehicles, although 18 were lost overboard during the wreck. The remaining cars were carefully extracted and transported over the ice to Copper Harbor.
