WKAR’s Jamie Paisley presents intriguing stories for each day in Michigan history. From name changes and iconic cities to arcane laws, Michigan Minute covers a wide variety of fascinatingly true tales from the Great Lake State. Interested in supporting the Michigan Minute?
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Nov 14, 2026 · 1:00
In 1914, John and Horace Dodge produced the first Dodge automobile, the four-cylinder Model 30, known as “Old Betsy,” at their Hamtramck facility. In 2013, Detroit Tiger Miguel…
Nov 13, 2026 · 1:00
Born on this day in 1922, Suzanne Upjohn Delano Parish co-founded the Air Zoo and famously flew a bright pink P-40 Warhawk during WWII. Though she joined the Women Airforce…
Nov 12, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1904, Herbert Hughes made headlines when a chicken he beheaded ran around for another 17 days, drawing tourists to Sault Ste. Marie. In 1862, Michigan State…
Nov 11, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1928, the Fisher Theater opened in Detroit, later remodeled for a more intimate experience. In 1975, Mariner Church tolled its bells 29 times for the crew lost on…
Nov 10, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1975, a fierce storm claimed the SS Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior, taking down the largest ship lost on the Great Lakes along with 29 crew members. The…
Nov 9, 2026 · 1:00
On this date in 2013, the newest U.S. Navy aircraft carrier was named after Michigan's only president, Gerald R. Ford, with notable attendees like Senator Carl Levin and Susan…
Nov 8, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1870, African Americans gained the right to vote in Michigan state elections, thanks to the 15th Amendment. In 2002, Eminem released "8 Mile," a film based on his…
Nov 7, 2026 · 1:00
This week in 1913, a devastating storm struck the Great Lakes, sinking 19 ships and claiming over 230 lives. On this day in 1950, Lansing welcomed Alexa Irene Canady, the first…
Nov 7, 2026 · 1:00
This week in 1913, a devastating storm struck the Great Lakes, sinking 19 ships and claiming over 230 lives. On this day in 1950, Lansing welcomed Alexa Irene Canady, the first…
Nov 6, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1962, an imposter named Daniel West was elected to Michigan's House of Representatives, claiming a background in local offices. He was reelected in 1964, but a…
Nov 5, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1918, Michigan became the 7th state to grant women the right to vote. In 2002, Jennifer Granholm was elected as the first woman governor. Additionally, in 2004,…
Nov 4, 2026 · 1:00
On this day, we honor Cora Mae Brown, who became the first Black woman elected to the Michigan Senate in 1952, advocating for civil rights and fair housing. Additionally, in…
Nov 3, 2026 · 1:00
On this date, we highlight key events: in 1927, Detroit Tiger Ty Cobb retired after 22 seasons, setting 90 MLB records. In 1972, Mackinac Island voters approved snowmobiles, the…
Nov 2, 2026 · 1:00
On this date, we recognize key milestones: in 1920, Eva M. Hamilton became the first woman elected to the Michigan Legislature, and in 1954, Charles Diggs was elected as…
Nov 1, 2026 · 1:00
Today, we commemorate pivotal moments in Michigan's history: the establishment of the first European outpost by Robert Cavalier de la Salle in 1679, the opening of the current…
Oct 31, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1926, legendary magician Harry Houdini passed away at Detroit’s Grace Hospital. After being punched unexpectedly in the stomach while unbraced during a Montreal…
Oct 30, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1943, University of Michigan football star Tom Harmon survived a dogfight over Japanese-occupied China during WWII, earning the Purple Heart and Silver Star. In…
Oct 29, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1901, Roy D. Chapin embarked on a challenging journey from Detroit to New York in a Curved Dash Oldsmobile, overcoming multiple mechanical issues to make it to the…
Oct 28, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1912, stunt pilot Art Smith and Aimee Cour made history with the first aerial elopement after crashing their plane en route to Michigan for marriage. In 2013, Matt…
Oct 27, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1992, the Keweenaw National Historic Park was established in Calumet, MI, honoring Michigan's rich mining history. Also, in 1876, after witnessing Alexander Graham…
Oct 26, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1975, Paula Faris, journalist and TV personality for ABC News, was born in Jackson, Michigan. Faris co-anchored Good Morning America from 2014 to 2018 and was an…
Oct 25, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1918, Lucy A. Sloan, a Michigan scholar, educator, author, and suffragist, passed away in Mt. Pleasant. Sloan was a champion of women's rights and helped found the…
Oct 24, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1901, Annie Edson Taylor, a widowed schoolteacher from Bay City, Michigan, made history by becoming the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel on her…
Oct 23, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1934, Jean and Jeanette Piccard launched a balloon from Dearborn, Michigan, reaching 10.9 miles in altitude before landing in Ohio, accompanied by Jean’s pet…
Oct 22, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1912, Detroit-born photographer Harry Callahan was born. Initially working for Chrysler, he shifted to photography after hearing Ansel Adams speak, later earning…
Oct 21, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1977, the stunning Sleeping Bear Dunes, inspired by a Chippewa legend of a mother bear and her cubs, officially became a National Lakeshore. Additionally, 1847…
Oct 20, 2026 · 1:00
In the 1950s, 26-year-old WWII veteran Milo Radulovich, a meteorology student at the University of Michigan, was dismissed from the Army Reserves as a security risk due to his…
Oct 19, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1903, Kalamazoo voters approved funding for the Western State Normal School, later Western Michigan University, with an impressive 8-to-1 margin. In 1907, Governor…
Oct 18, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1978, the USPS released one of two Christmas stamps in Holly, Michigan, a treat for stamp collectors. Additionally, we celebrate the birthday of Willie Horton,…
Oct 17, 2026 · 1:00
Happy birthday to Queen Naija, born in Ypsilanti in 1995! A singer and YouTuber, she gained fame as a contestant on the 13th season of American Idol. After self-releasing her hit…
Oct 16, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1918, amid the Spanish influenza outbreak, U-of-M students in Ann Arbor received facemasks, while Dr. R. M. Olin upheld a quarantine in East Lansing, prioritizing…
Oct 15, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1900, a dark chapter unfolded for the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa indigenous peoples in Michigan. After years of treaties with the federal government, a…
Oct 14, 2026 · 1:00
Born today in 1940 in Detroit, Dave DeBusschere was a dual-sport athlete who played both Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox and basketball for the Detroit Pistons in…
Oct 13, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1845, Douglass Houghton, Michigan's state geologist, drowned in Lake Superior. He mapped much of the state and is honored with the namesake of Michigan's tallest…
Oct 12, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1921, Art Clokey was born in Detroit. While his name may not be widely recognized, his creation, Gumby, is iconic. Clokey spent his childhood playing with mud,…
Oct 11, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1910, an op-ed in the Michigan Daily called for University of Michigan football players to wear numbers on their jerseys, but coach Fielding H. Yost opposed it,…
Oct 10, 2026 · 1:00
On this day, the Detroit Tigers celebrated two World Series victories: their second title in 1945 against the Chicago Cubs and their third in 1968 against the St. Louis…
Oct 9, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1888, Martha Strickland Clark became the first woman to argue before the Michigan Supreme Court, winning a landmark divorce case in Thompson v. Thomson. She went…
Oct 8, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1871, fires broke out across Michigan, devastating areas from Holland to Manistee and the Thumb region, claiming over 50 lives. In 2020, the FBI shocked the nation…
Oct 7, 2026 · 1:00
Known as "Shipwreck Alley," Thunder Bay near Alpena, Michigan, was designated a National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve today in 2000. In 1927, after five years of…
Oct 6, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1972, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore became the first of its kind, showcasing 73,000 acres of stunning natural beauty in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In 1983,…
Oct 5, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1835, Michigan voters elected their first governor, Stephen T. Mason, along with the first state legislature, while also adopting a groundbreaking constitution…
Oct 4, 2026 · 1:00
Born today in 1894, Buster Keaton, famed silent film star, has ties to Muskegon through the Bluffton Actor’s Colony. Meanwhile, Oscar-winner Charlton Heston, born in 1923, spent…
Oct 3, 2026 · 1:00
Born today in 1951, Karen Koch of Monroe, Michigan, became the first female professional hockey player, debuting as a goaltender for the Marquette Iron Rangers. And today in…
Oct 2, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1873, the cornerstone for Michigan’s third and current state capitol building was laid. Designed by Elijah E. Meyers, the building features a cast iron dome and…
Oct 1, 2026 · 1:00
Born on this day in 1840, Fannie Richards became Detroit’s first Black school teacher and played a crucial role in pioneering early childhood education in Michigan. She opened…
Sep 30, 2026 · 1:00
Born on this day in 1814, in Vermont, Lucinda Hinsdale Stone moved to Kalamazoo in 1843. She became a leading educator at Kalamazoo College, advocating for co-education and…
Sep 29, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1975, Detroit launched WGPR-TV, the first TV station in the U.S. owned and operated by Black Americans. Founded by William Venoid Banks, it offered diverse programming…
Sep 28, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1912, Muskegon High defeated Hastings High with a staggering score of 216-0, marking the largest blowout in football history. Also on this day, in 1835, the…
Sep 27, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1962, Michigan's Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant, near Charlevoix, began operation, featuring a promotional video with Ronald Reagan. The plant supported cancer…
Sep 26, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1981, tennis legend Serena Williams was born in Saginaw, Michigan. Additionally, on this day in 1807, the Denison family fought for freedom in Macomb County.…
Sep 25, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1956, Jamie Hyneman, future MythBusters co-host, was born in Marshall, Michigan. On the same day in 1849, Detroit hosted its second state fair, a major event that drew…
Sep 24, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1830, Stephen G. Simmons was executed in Detroit for killing his wife, marking Michigan's last death penalty before its abolition in 1846. His moving final address and…
Sep 23, 2026 · 1:00
Born on this day in 1949, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Jerry B. Jenkins is a bestselling author best known for the Left Behind series. On this day in 1934, the Detroit Lions played…
Sep 22, 2026 · 1:00
Born on this day in 1941, Ernest Green, a member of the Little Rock Nine, was the first Black student to graduate from Little Rock Central High School in 1958. After attending…
Sep 21, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1969, the University of Detroit Mercy dedicated Gino Testaguzzi’s bronze statue, The Black Madonna and Child. This artwork, commissioned to reflect diversity and…
Sep 20, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1918, in Alabama, Dr. Charles Howard Wright moved to Detroit, where he challenged racial segregation at Hutzel Women’s Hospital. His efforts led to policy changes and…
Sep 19, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1844, William Austin Burt discovered iron ore in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, fueling future steel production. On September 15, 1876, Melville Bissell was granted a…
Sep 18, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1951, neurosurgeon and political figure Ben Carson was born in Detroit, Michigan. Carson later gained prominence as a presidential candidate and HUD Secretary. On…
Sep 17, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 2016, Nashville, Michigan reclaimed the world record for the longest ice cream sundae with a 3,656-foot creation. In 1962, Paul Feig was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan.…
Sep 16, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1944, Yooper Sergeant Oscar Johnson of Foster City earned the Medal of Honor for his valor in WWII. Johnson later farmed and attended Michigan State University, with the…
Sep 15, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1886, Michigan Mining School held its first classes in Houghton Fire Hall, evolving into Michigan Tech. Meanwhile, in 1878, Michigan's first phone book, "List of…
Sep 14, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1935, the first issue of the Detroit Tribune, a historic Black newspaper, was published. It continued until 1966 and is now available online. In 1964, Kellogg’s of…
Sep 13, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1966, the Michigan Court of Appeals desegregated cemeteries, ending racial segregation in final resting places. This decision followed the disinterment of an…
Sep 12, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1911, J. Clifford Turpin made the first flight over Grand Rapids at the West Michigan State Fair. His Model B plane, with wheels for takeoff and landing, soared…
Sep 11, 2026 · 1:00
In 2015, Michigan Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat were embroiled in a scandal involving fake stories and misuse of taxpayer funds. Courser resigned, and Gamrat was…
Sep 10, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1913, Ana Clemenc, known as “Big Annie,” was jailed during a protest at Calumet mine while supporting striking miners. She was convicted of assault but continued…
Sep 9, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1925, Dr. Ossian Sweet and his family were attacked by a white mob in Detroit after moving to a neighborhood considered beyond the color line. In self-defense, shots…
Sep 8, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1885, Eleanore Hutzel was born in Ann Arbor. She became a pioneering advocate for women's and children's rights, leading the Women's Division of the Detroit Police…
Sep 7, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1956, Michigan's Iven Kincheloe set a record altitude of 126,200 feet in his X-2 plane, becoming known as America's first spaceman. Kincheloe’s career was cut short by a…
Sep 6, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1898, Sarah Emma Edmonds, a Civil War veteran who served disguised as a man in the Union Army, passed away. Also, in 1964, Beatlemania hit Detroit's Olympia…
Sep 5, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1881, a massive firestorm in Michigan's Thumb burned over a million acres, killing at least 282 people. In 1959, the Mackinac Bridge Walk was moved to Labor Day,…
Sep 4, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1838, over 850 Potawatomi, including 150 from Michigan, were forced west on the "trail of death," though some in Dowagiac resisted thanks to leader Leopold…
Sep 3, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1783, the U.S. Revolutionary War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris by future president John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, among others. Thanks to…
Sep 2, 2026 · 1:00
On this day in 1902, Detroit recorded its first automobile fatality when businessman George W. Bissell was thrown from his horse-drawn carriage after it was startled by a…
Sep 1, 2026 · 1:00
Born in Detroit on August 31, 1939, Lily Tomlin began her career in stand-up comedy before earning acclaim in film, television, and theater. Known for her Oscar-nominated role in…
Aug 31, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1809, the first and possibly only issue of "The Michigan Essay or The Impartial Observer" was published by Father Gabriel Richard in Detroit. The four-page paper,…
Aug 30, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1905, Ty Cobb made his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers at 18 years old. Known for his exceptional batting, Cobb hit .420 in the 1911 season and became the first…
Aug 29, 2026 · 1:00
Jazz musician Bennie Maupin, born in Detroit on this day in 1940, famously declined Miles Davis's offer to join his band in 1970, having already committed to trumpeter Lee…
Aug 28, 2026 · 1:00
Michigan passed a law banning hitchhiking and bicycles on the Interstate Highway System, nearly a decade after the system's enactment. Also, on this day in 1835, President Andrew…
Aug 27, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1856, Abraham Lincoln visited Kalamazoo to campaign for John Charles Fremont. His speech, initially lost to history, was rediscovered in 1930 by Tom Starr in a 1856…
Aug 26, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1935, the United Auto Workers (UAW) was officially organized, uniting various autoworker unions under one banner. This led to a series of sit-down strikes, culminating…
Aug 25, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1895, notorious train robber John Smalley was killed in a shootout with deputies near Cadillac, Michigan. Smalley, who had stolen over $1 million and eluded capture for…
Aug 24, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1915, Michigan introduced a bounty of 5 cents per rat to combat rodent infestations, a law that remained in place until its repeal in 2000. In 1969, East Lansing's…
Aug 23, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1967, The Who performed at Flint's Atwood Stadium on drummer Keith Moon’s 21st birthday. Fans sent 200 cakes to the Holiday Inn, leading to a wild food fight that…
Aug 22, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1974, professional bodybuilder Iris Kyle was born in Benton Harbor. She is the most successful woman bodybuilder with 10 Ms. Olympia and 7 Ms. International titles and…
Aug 21, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1897, Ransom Eli Olds founded Olds Motors Works, which later became Oldsmobile. After a fire destroyed most of the cars, the surviving model became a sensation at the…
Aug 20, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1920, Detroit began the first commercial radio broadcasting with the test call sign 8MK, later becoming WWJ. It continues to broadcast today. On the same day in 1971,…
Aug 19, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1958, former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder was born in Battle Creek. Snyder, a businessman and lawyer, served as governor from 2011 to 2019 and gained national attention…
Aug 18, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1926, Traverse City's Wallace Keep sent a 46-pound cherry pie to President Calvin Coolidge, showcasing the region’s famous cherries. On the same date in 2016, Helen…
Aug 17, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 2014, Claudia House Morcom, the first Black woman to serve as a Wayne County circuit court judge, passed away. Morcom was a pivotal civil rights advocate, providing…
Aug 16, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1965, George Grady became Michigan's first African-American police chief in Dowagiac, serving for 9 years. Today also marks the birthday of Madonna, born in Bay City,…
Aug 15, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1847, the U.S. Government introduced postage stamps to Michigan, with 5 and 10 cent versions arriving in Detroit. On the same date in 1940, Chrysler began constructing a…
Aug 14, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1959, NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson was born in Lansing, Michigan. In 2014, Bay City honored the song “96 Tears” by Rudy Martinez, aka Question Mark and the…
Aug 13, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1817, President James Monroe visited Detroit as part of his tour inspecting US forts post-War of 1812, and also visited Monroe, Michigan, named in his honor. On the same…
Aug 12, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1942, the U.S.S. Wolverine, the Great Lakes’ first aircraft carrier, was commissioned in Buffalo, NY. Originally named the Seeandbee, the ship was repurposed by the Navy…
Aug 11, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 2014, Detroit experienced its heaviest one-day rainfall in nearly 90 years, causing flooding, power outages, and two deaths. In 1971, Dr. Adrian Kantrowitz performed the…
Aug 10, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 1697, the European ship Le Griffon docked in Michigan, only to sink in Lake Michigan shortly after. In 1950, Soviet radio claimed Michigan football players were…
Aug 9, 2026 · 1:00
In 2012, Flint native Claressa Shields won gold in the first women's middleweight boxing event at the London Olympics. Today is also Gillian Anderson's birthday. Known for "The…
Aug 8, 2026 · 1:00
Today in 2000, after 27 years of litigation, an agreement was made between Michigan, the US Government, and various indigenous tribes regarding fishing restrictions, particularly…
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