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
Man pulled from Lake Michigan near Oakwood Beach on South Side in critical condition: Chicago police

CHICAGO (WLS) — A man was pulled from Lake Michigan Friday morning on Chicago’s South Side, Chicago police said.
Chopper 7 was over the scene near 4100 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive about 11 a.m.
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That’s near Oakwood Beach, just south of Burnham Park.
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A man was seen being pulled from the water. The man was then given CPR by first responders.
Chicago police said Chicago fire crews pulled the man from the water.
He was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition.
No one else was hurt, police said.
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Michigan
From the classroom to the shelter: supporting Mid-Michigan’s homeless students

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Homelessness is increasing in mid-Michigan’s student population, according to Michigan’s Department of Education (MDE).
However, a network of support programs is helping students while they go to classes.
It’s a complex issue with districts like Lansing Public Schools helping provide those students with much-needed support in and out of the classroom.
Some of the largest districts in Mid-Michigan have hundreds of students experiencing homelessness. Data from the MDE shows Lansing has 604 students, or nearly 6% of its student body, struggling with housing insecurity.
“The majority of our families are sharing the housing of others, we also have families stay in hotels, the local homeless shelters, tents, cars,” said Rose Taphouse with Lansing Public School’s Families Overcoming Rough Times F.O.R.T. program.
The program meets unhoused students and families where they are, helping with enrollment, transportation, and basic needs like clothing and shoes.
“If we can provide a quality education, give our children a chance, help them make it through their educational experiences, and graduate, their chances of becoming homeless as an adult are greatly reduced,” said Taphouse.
Program coordinator Rose Taphouse says students experiencing homelessness face many academic and mental challenges.
“Our students are exposed to four times the trauma of their house peers, which impacts attendance, behavior, all of those things, it causes major anxiety, especially when students don’t know where they’re going to sleep at night,” said Taphouse.
Despite those challenges, people should remember they’re still just kids, something the city rescue mission of Lansing sees often.
“Last night, by example, we had about 28 children. The kids are ordinary children that look and act like everybody else and want to have a good time and build friendships.
The F.O.R.T. program also assists other school districts within Ingham County, like Holt and Mason. They also partner with agencies like Child and Family Charities and Advent House to provide additional support.
School officials say student homelessness is a community-wide challenge to provide families with everything from affordable housing to childcare.
Child and Family Charities offer support for families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Through our Resource Coordinators, we help connect individuals with local services, Medicaid outreach, and essential items such as food, diapers, and clothing. Our compassionate team works one-on-one with each family to provide personalized assistance.
For support, call 517-882-4000 or visit childandfamily.org.
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Copyright 2025 WILX. All rights reserved.
Michigan
Woman charged for unsecured gun in shooting of Michigan student

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