Events

On this day in 1968, Denny McLain earned his 20th victory of the season by blanking Baltimore at Memorial Stadium, 9-0. The Tigers would go on to win the World Series that year, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 in Game 7.

Following its ratification by the necessary three-quarters of U.S. states, including Michigan, the 14th Amendment, guaranteeing to African Americans citizenship and all its privileges, was officially adopted into the U.S. Constitution on this day in 1868.

On this day in 1909, the newly formed General Motors Corporation acquired the country’s leading luxury automaker, the Cadillac Automobile Company, for $4.5 million. That would be nearly $27 million by today's standards.

Industrialist Henry Ford was born in Greenfield Township, Michigan on this day in 1863. He would go on to form the Ford Motor Company, and is credited with revolutionizing factory operations by developing the assembly line technique for mass production.

Jimmy Hoffa’s green Pontiac Grand Ville was found, unlocked, in the parking lot of the Machus Red Fox Restaurant in Bloomfield Township on this day in 1975. Hoffa, one of the most influential American labor leaders of the 20th century, had been last seen standing outside the restaurant the day before. Though he is popularly believed to

The Detroit Zoological Park, with its revolutionary barless exhibits, opened on this day in 1928. Exhibits included bear dens, lion dens, a bird house, elk yard, raccoon and wolverine habitats, an African veldt, and completely stocked lakes.

Beloved Detroit Tiger announcer, Ernie Harwell was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on this day in 1981. His remarks in Copperstown included, "...most of all, I'm a part of you people out there who have listened to me, because especially you people in Michigan, you Tiger fans, you've given me so much warmth, so much

Streetcars drawn by horses began to operate on Jefferson and Woodward Avenues in Detroit on this day in 1863. Free rides were offered that day to all, as 4 tiny horse-drawn cars bounced along tracks on Jefferson Avenue, from Randolph to Elmwood.

An act of the U.S. Congress appropriated $50,000 to build a new fort in accordance with the Army’s Great Lakes Defense Plan on this day in 1841. The fort would support ground force operations, control the strategically important Detroit River and protect Detroit. It would later be called Fort Wayne

Tecumseh and two dozen Indians ambushed 200 Michigan militia led by Major Thomas B. Van Horne at Brownstown Creek on this day in 1812. Van Horne ordered a retreat back to Fort Lernoult, and the untrained militiamen scattered in a panic. 17 were killed, 12 were wounded, and two were captured and murdered, while 1 Indian was

Two sections of the Wallace Brothers Circus train collided at Durand on this day in 1903. The accident killed 23 members of the circus troupe, and injured twice as many more. It also calimed the lives of one Arabian horse, three camels, one great dane and an elephant, which were all buried at the scene.

The Goose Lake International Music Festival began in Leoni Township, Michigan, on this day in 1970. Hailed as the next "Woodstock," it featured many of the top rock music acts of the period and drew 200,000 fans. Local politicians, including Michigan's governor were concerned about drug use and made sure that the event did not happen again.

On this day in 1933, the Detroit Board of Education organized the six colleges it ran — liberal arts, medical, education, pharmacy, engineering and a graduate school — into one university. In January 1934, that institution was officially named Wayne University. Today it is commonly known as Wayne State.

Grand Rapids resident Gerald R. Ford became President of the United States on this day in 1974. His predecessor, Richard Nixon, had resigned to avoid being impeached for his role in the Watergate scandal. After taking the oath of office, President Ford spoke to the nation in a television address, famously proclaiming, “My fellow Americans, our long

The Griffon became the first sailing vessel to pass what will one day be Detroit on its way to the upper Great Lakes on this day in 1679. Built by Robert La Salle, who was looking for a route to Asia. The ship entered Lake St. Clair two days later, on the feast day of Saint Clare

In an operation at Detroit's Mount Sinai Hospital, Haskell Shanks of Warren, Michigan became the first American to receive a mechanical heart pump on this day in 1971. The surgery, which took about five hours, was performed by a team headed by Dr. Adrian Kantrowitz, developer of the artificial pacemaker.

Women’s rights advocate, Rev. Ida C. Hultin of Boston, addressed approximately 3000 Ford Motor Company workers on this day in 1912. It was one of many speeches given in the Detroit area by the suffragette, who exhorted the need for women to receive the vote. She took to the streets knowing men were unikely to come and

President James Monroe became the first president of the United States to visit Michigan on this day in 1817. Monroe had embarked upon a three-month Grand Tour of the Northeast, inspecting forts and other military installations in the wake of the War of 1812. He stayed in the Detroit area for 5 days.

For the first time, a state law requiring all drivers of motor vehicles to carry licenses while driving went into effect in Michigan on this day in 1919. About 250,000, who were not required to pass either a written or road test, are said to have applied for a license.

On this day in 1899, in Detroit, Michigan, Henry Ford resigned his position as chief engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company’s main plant, in order to concentrate on automobile production.

Northwest Airlines Flight #255 crashed just after takeoff near Detroit Metropolitan Airport, on this day in 1987. Though it was one of the worst aviation disasters in American history, killing 156 people, one four-year-old girl miraculously, survived.

On this day in 1923, Henry Ford’s yacht, Sailia, arrived at Escanaba carrying Ford, Harvey Firestone, and Thomas Edison for a vacation in the Upper Peninsula. During the trip Firestone is said to have tested the first balloon tires. The three close friends would return to the area periodically.

After a few experiemental broadcasts, Michigan's first educational radio station, WKAR, was granted a full license on this day in 1922. It is now the public broadcasting voice of Michigan State University, and the oldest surviving radio station in the Lansing area.

On this day in 1959, the Tommy Dorsey big band played to 50,000 people as they celebrated the opening of the country's first downtown pedestrian mall in Kalamazoo. The city spent $60,000 and closed several downtown blocks to traffic in order to create the pedestrian-friendly shopping area, and reviatlize the downtown.

General Wayne led a force of two thousand Americans to defeat a combination of warriors from several different Indian tribes on this day in 1794. The battle took place just south of present-day Toledo, Ohio, and was known as Fallen Timbers due to a tornado, which had just devastated the area. The victory forced the British to

A massive power failure starting in Ohio struck much of the eastern United States and Canada on this day in 2003. Parts of Michigan, including Detroit, were without electrical power for three days. Unable to refuel, cars were also stranded along highways throughout the state.

Madonna's record, "Who's That Girl," became her sixth single to top the Billboard Hot 100 on this day in 1987. It was also nominated for "Best Song From A Motion Picture" at the 1988 Grammy Awards and "Best Original Song" at the 1988 Golden Globe Awards.

Over sixty thousand fans gathered to watch the Detroit Lions play their first game in what would eventually be called the Pontiac Silverdome on this day in 1975. The Lions beat the Kansas City Chiefs in an exhibition game on that day, and would continue to make that field their home until 2001.

Victor Jackson, of East Lansing, landed near Manitowac, Wisconsin on this day in 1969, after completing a 14 and-a-half hour trip across Lake Michigan in a bathtub. The 32-year-old father of six made the 65-mile journey in a household-type tub welded to a frame supported by four 30-gallon oil drums and powered by a 20-horsepower outboard motor.

Joseph Gibbons of Adrian patented the first practical machine for seeding. His grain drill delivered seed at a controlled volume, when planting a single row.

On this day in 1817, Michigan Territory Governor, Lewis Cass, and the Territory’s legislators, enacted a bill to establish a University of Michigania. The original academy consisted of one building in Detroit and allowed for students to get more training before they went on to one of the few actual American colleges, such as Harvard or Yale.

While campaigning for Presidential Candidate John Charles Fremont, Abraham Lincoln visited Kalamazoo, Michigan, on this day in 1856. In his remarks Lincoln stated, "The question of slavery, at the present day, should be not only the greatest question, but very nearly the sole question."

On this day in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his now famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Two months earlier, King had marched in Detroit in a rally known as ”The Walk to Freedom,” where he led 125,000 people in the largest civil rights demonstration the nation had

Bay City's opera house and nearby businesses, went up in flames on this day in 1902. Fire swept through the theater shortly after midnight, completely gutting the structure, and killing a 22-year old man. The building, which was a replacement for a previous opera house consumed by fire, was completely destroyed.

On this day in 2012, Michigan native Mitt Romney formally accepted the Republican Party's nomination for President of the United States at the 2012 Republican National Convention. He was the first Mormon ever to receive a nomination from a major party, but would go on to lose the election to Democratic candidate Barack Obama.

After a hot, dry summer, a forest fire began in northern Lapeer County on this day in 1881. Gales winds would fan the flames into an inferno that raged for three days, burning a million acres in Sanilac and Huron counties. At least 125 people died, and thousands more were left homeless. The fire was the first

William Nathan Ferris and his wife, Helen, opened the Big Rapids Industrial School in temporary quarters in the Vandersluis Block building in Big Rapids on this day in 1884. It would later become Ferris State University. W. N. Ferris went on to serve as governor from 1913-1916 and as a U.S. Senator from 1923-1928.

The SS Iosco, a wooden steamer, sank near the Huron Islands in Lake Superior on this day in 1905 after a big gale. The schooner was towing the Olive Jeanette, which also perished in the storm. A total of 26 crew members were lost in the event.

The Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence, was signed on this day in 1783. Through the treaty, the land that is now Michigan was granted to the United States; however, the British held onto the area and its profitable fur trade until the implementation of Jay's Treaty thirteen years later.

On September 4, 1957–“E-Day,” according to its advertising campaign–the Ford Motor Company unveiled the Edsel, the first new automobile brand produced by one of the Big Three car companies since 1938. It was a dismal failure that would become legendary.

On this day in 1818, forest fires started by farmers burning logger's slashings ran through Michigan's thumb area. After three days 282 people had died and 3,400 buildings were destroyed. The survivors were the first people to be helped by the newly organized American Red Cross.