Michigan Minute
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?
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 1 minutes
- Episodes
- 446
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
Ty Cobb's MLB Debut in Detroit | August 30
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 millionaire in baseball thro…
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Sat 30 Aug 2025
Jazz Musician Bennie Maupin Born in Detroit | August 29
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 Morgan. Despite this, Maupi…
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Fri 29 Aug 2025
Michigan Bans Hitchhiking on Freeways | August 28
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 Jackson removed 19-y…
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Thu 28 Aug 2025
Lincoln's Kalamazoo Visit | August 27
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 Detroit Advertiser at the…
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Wed 27 Aug 2025
UAW Formation | August 26
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 in the 44-day sit-in a…
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Tue 26 Aug 2025
John Smalley's Last Stand | August 25
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 a decade, was shot wh…
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Mon 25 Aug 2025
Bounty on Rats & Bathtub Boat Adventure | August 24
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 Victor Jackson made headli…
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Sun 24 Aug 2025
Keith Moon's Memorable Flint Birthday | August 23
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 attracted police. Moon ende…
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Sat 23 Aug 2025
Iris Kyle's Birthday & Detroit's Electric Trolley Cars | August 22
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 made a pop-culture app…
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Fri 22 Aug 2025
Oldsmobile's Debut & Capri Drive-In Theater Opening | August 21
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 1901 New York Auto Show…
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Thu 21 Aug 2025
First Commercial Radio & Paul Bunyan Claims | August 20
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, Oscoda, Michigan, claim…
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Wed 20 Aug 2025
Birthdays of Rick Snyder & Colleen Moore | August 19
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 for his role in the …
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Tue 19 Aug 2025
Presidential Pie and Olympic Gold | August 18
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 Maroulis, who moved to Ma…
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Mon 18 Aug 2025
Claudia House Morcom's Legacy | August 17
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 legal defense for civil r…
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Mon 18 Aug 2025
Michigan’s First Black Police Chief & Madonna’s Birthday | August 16
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, Michigan in 1958, widel…
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Mon 18 Aug 2025
Michigan’s First Postage Stamps & Chrysler’s Tank Factory | August 15
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 tank factory in Warr…
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Mon 18 Aug 2025
Magic Johnson’s Birthday and Bay City’s Rock & Roll Honor | August 14
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 Mysterians, recorded in 1966,…
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Mon 18 Aug 2025
James Monroe’s Visit & The Palace’s Grand Opening | August 13
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 day in 1988, The Pal…
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Wed 13 Aug 2025
Commissioning of the U.S.S. Wolverine & Its Historic Training Role | August 12
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 to train aviators in…
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Tue 12 Aug 2025
Detroit's Record Rainfall & First Mechanical Heart Pump | August 11
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 first American impla…
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Mon 11 Aug 2025
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