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
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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Mon 12 Aug 2024
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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Sun 11 Aug 2024
First European Ship in Michigan & Soviet Propaganda | August 10
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 regularly injured, but the U.…
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Sat 10 Aug 2024
Claressa Shields' Olympic Gold and Gillian Anderson's Birthday | August 9
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 X-Files" and "The Crow…
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Fri 09 Aug 2024
Fishing Agreement Reached, Shortest American League Game & Jim Blanchard's Birthday | August 8
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 nets that were killi…
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Thu 08 Aug 2024
Grand River Avenue Opens & National Lighthouse Day Celebrated | August 7
Today in 1926, Grand River Avenue, or Historic US-16, opened in Michigan, becoming the first paved road to stretch completely across the state. Connecting Detroit to Muskegon, it served as a primary …
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Wed 07 Aug 2024
Detroit Restaurateur Convicted as Nazi Spy | August 6
Today in 1942, Detroit restaurant owner Max Stephan was convicted of treason and sentenced to death for being a Nazi spy. A member of the local German immigrant community, Stephan was turned in by hi…
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Tue 06 Aug 2024
Stevie Wonder Signs Historic Contract | August 5
Today in 1975, Stevie Wonder signed a groundbreaking contract with Motown worth $37 million for seven albums over seven years. Initially, Wonder considered retiring and moving to Ghana to focus on hu…
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Mon 05 Aug 2024
Michigan’s First Telephone Rings | August 4
Today in 1877, the first telephone in Michigan rang, owned by the Grand Rapids Plaster Company, a friend of Alexander Graham Bell. Bell sent him a pair of the new devices for a public demonstration. …
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Sun 04 Aug 2024
The Treaty of Greenville & Bois Blanc Island | August 3
Today in 1795, Chippewa Chief Matchekewis ceded Bois Blanc Island to the U.S. as part of the Treaty of Greenville, calling it "an extra and voluntary gift of the Chippewa nation." Following the Battl…
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Sat 03 Aug 2024
Michigan's Car Ferry Debut & A Historic Olympic Win | August 2
Today in 1923, the first car ferry service began across the Straits of Mackinac, with the wooden ferry Ariel carrying three cars on its inaugural voyage. The service operated until the Mackinac Bridg…
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Fri 02 Aug 2024
Detroit's Historic Bowling Alley & Trailblazing Aviator | August 1
In 1913, John Bauer and Irv Giese opened The Garden Bowl, a 10-lane bowling alley on Woodward Avenue in Detroit. It has become America's oldest continuously operating bowling alley and was listed on …
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Thu 01 Aug 2024
General Motors Listed on NYSE | July 31
1911: The New York Stock Exchange listed General Motors Securities, marking a significant expansion for Detroit's burgeoning automotive industry. In a separate historic event, the Treaty with the Ott…
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Wed 31 Jul 2024
Jimmy Hoffa Disappears | July 30
1975: Jimmy Hoffa disappeared after a meeting with Detroit crime figure Tony Jack Giacalone and New Jersey Teamster boss Tony Pro, sparking a mystery that persists to this day. Despite numerous specu…
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Tue 30 Jul 2024
General Motors Acquires Cadillac | July 29
1909: General Motors Corporation acquired Cadillac, the leading luxury automaker at the time, for $4.5 million. Founded from the remains of Henry Ford's second failed company, Cadillac was revitalize…
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Mon 29 Jul 2024
End of the Detroit Race Riot | July 28
1967: The Detroit race riot (or rebellion) came to a close after President Johnson deployed 2 US Army divisions to quell the violence. It was the deadliest incident of the 1967 summer unrest, resulti…
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Sun 28 Jul 2024
Whipping Law, First Pension Checks & Earthquake | July 27
1818: Detroit enacted a law allowing public whipping for offenses including drunkenness, disorderliness, petty theft, and domestic violence. 1934: The first old-age pension checks, a precursor to Soc…
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Sat 27 Jul 2024
Lorna Gray's Birthday & Historic Log Jam | July 26
1917: Birth of Hollywood actress Lorna Gray in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She starred alongside Buster Keaton and The Three Stooges, and portrayed Gail Richards in the first film adaptation of Captain A…
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Fri 26 Jul 2024
Supreme Court Ruling on Busing & Ombudsman Appointment | July 25
1974: The US Supreme Court ruled against the NCAA's lawsuit challenging Michigan Governor Milliken's busing practices in Detroit, which ultimately exacerbated racial segregation and spurred 'White Fl…
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Thu 25 Jul 2024
Hydroelectric Plant & Julie Krone's Achievements | July 24
1880: Grand Rapids Electric Light & Power Company launched the world’s first commercial central station hydroelectric power plant, powered by Wolverine Chair & Furniture Company’s water turbine. 1963…
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Wed 24 Jul 2024
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