Michigan
It’s National Michigan Day! Unique facts, interesting history about the Great Lakes State.
Happy Michigan Day!
National Michigan Day is celebrated every year on January 18. States are celebrated by the order they entered the union, starting in July, according to National Day Calendar®, which founded the holidays in 2017. Delaware, the first state to join, is celebrated July 13. That’s followed by National Pennsylvania Day on July 20 and eventually National Michigan Day on Jan. 18.
“This initiative is our way of honoring each state in the order they joined the Union, offering a dedicated day to celebrate the unique heritage, achievements, and spirit of each state,” its website says.
Michigan’s actual birthday is Jan. 26, 1837. It is also known as the Mitten State, the Wolverine State or even the Great Lakes State.
Here are some more fun facts, notable days in history and more about Michigan.
Important days in Michigan history*
- 1620: French explorers Étienne Brulé and Grenoble discover Lake Superior.
- 1701: Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac and his lieutenant set up a trading post on the Detroit River — Fort Pontchartrain —which is where Detroit is now located.
- 1792: Michigan holds its first election under the British Parliament’s Constitutional Act.
- 1837: Michigan is admitted to the Union as the 26th state after President Andrew Jackson signs the bill into law.
- 1896: Henry Ford builds his first experimental automobile, the quadricycle, at his home in Detroit.
- 1974: Gerald R. Ford of Grand Rapids becomes the 38th President of the U.S.
- 2002: Jennifer Granholm becomes the first female Governor of Michigan.
* according to NationalToday.com.
All things Michigan
Places to visit in Michigan
Interesting facts about Michigan
According to NationalToday.com, here are some fascinating facts about Michigan:
Michigan haters
- It’s not uncommon for folks to leave Michigan’s treasured top half completely out of maps or labeled as part of Wisconsin (come on!). Here’s seven times the U.P. was left off maps or labeled incorrectly.
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Michigan
Michigan women’s basketball vs. Louisville in Sweet 16: Time, TV, stream
When the Sweet 16 continues on Saturday during the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament, Michigan women’s basketball (27-6) will continue its climb to reach the Final Four for the first time.
The Wolverines, who earned the No. 2 seed in the Fort Worth 3 Region, are playing in the program’s third Sweet 16 under head coach Kim Barnes Arico.
“We committed to Michigan to do this, and we committed to Coach Arico to do it for her and for each other,” Michigan guard Olivia Olson said. “We’re accomplishing the goals we set out to, and we’re not done yet. So we’re going to keep having fun with it and keep preparing.”
Michigan will take on No. 3 Louisville Cardinals (29-7) at 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
“This is my first time going to the Sweet 16, all of our first times, so I think the feeling of, we’re still dancing, we’re still playing basketball, it’s a great feeling,” Louisville guard Taj Roberts said.
The winner from Saturday’s matchup will play in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 30, for the right to advance to the Final Four.
What time is Michigan vs. Louisville?
- Date: Saturday, March 28
- Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Dickies Arena (Fort Worth, Texas)
The Michigan Wolverines will play the Louisville Cardinals in the Sweet 16 round of the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 28, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Michigan vs. Louisville: TV, streaming
Michigan
Morez Johnson Jr. NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land
The 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament is down to its Sweet 16 and we’ll have a Final Four by Sunday evening. For half of the college stars taking the court this weekend, it’s one final opportuniy to impress NBA teams with their play at full game speed when the lights are brightest as this year’s draft class comes into focus.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY’s latest mock draft, Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. is expected to go in the first round. Here’s how USA TODAY currently projects the big man’s draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN’s projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Morez Johnson Jr. 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 25 overall, Los Angeles Lakers
Kalbrosky’s Analysis:
Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best, most underrated two-way players in the NCAA. He is a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson’s shooting form at the free throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should find minutes at the next level.
See USA TODAY’s full mock draft here
Morez Johnson Jr. player profile
(all stats as of March 15)
- Position: Forward-Center
- Current Team: Michigan
- 13.1 points per game
- 7.2 rebounds per game
- 1.1 assists per game
- 62.8% field goal percentage
- 37.9% three-point field goal percentage
Los Angeles Lakers 2026 projected draft picks
Michigan
Woman struck, fatally injured, while walking on the Lodge Freeway, state police say
A pedestrian was struck and died of her injuries early Friday on the Lodge Freeway in Detroit.
Emergency dispatchers started to get calls about 2:30 a.m. about someone who was walking along the Lodge, and then were notified that the person had been struck by a vehicle, the Michigan State Police reported.
When troopers arrived, they found multiple cars stopped along the freeway, and people standing around a woman who was severely injured.
Detroit EMS pronounced the woman dead at the scene, state police said. She has not yet been identified.
The driver who struck the woman did not stay at the scene.
“Troopers are currently using technology that is available in the area to identify the vehicle involved,” MSP F/Lt. Mike Shaw said.
The Lodge Freeway, also known as M-10, was closed at about 2:46 a.m. Friday between Chicago Boulevard / Hamilton Avenue and Clairmount Street for the investigation and emergency assistance, according to Michigan Department of Transportation reports. The Lodge was reported back open at 6:05 a.m.
Michigan Department of Transportation traffic reports are at the MI Drive site.
State police said their investigation is continuing. Those who witnessed the crash or have other information are asked to call the MSP Metro South Post at 734-287-5000 or Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 800-SPEAK-UP.
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