Facts of Michigan

The discovering of Michigan

          The French started trading with the Indians in 1620. In 1688 Father Jacques Marquette - a missonary and explorer - founded a permanent village by the name of Saulte Ste. Marie. Other missionaries also established missions around the entire perimeter of Lake Michigan, hence there are Christian Indians.

Michigan

          There are two theories where the name Michigan is derived from. The first says that it is derived from the Indian word 'Mishigamaa', which means 'Big Lake'. Or it's from the Indian Word 'Míshikehn' or 'Mákinaak' which both means 'the Big Turtle'. The story of the beginning of Michigan, and the beginning of the world, after a deluge, is at the island 'Mackinac Island'. Sand of the sea-bottom was layed down on a turtle, and so came Michigan.
With thanks to Jaawano Giijik (T. Geertsema), Warffum.

The Flag

  • At the top of the seal are the words 'E Pluribus Unum'. This means 'From many, one'.
  • The word Tuebor means 'I will Defend', and has reference to the frontier position of Michigan.
  • The State Motto is 'Si quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice', which means 'If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you'.

The State-stuff

          The Americans know this. But almost all the people of the rest of the world don't. Every state has some special State-stuff. Those things has to be found in that state. For Michigan it's:

State ...WhatAdopted in
BirdRobin1931
FishBrook Trout1988
FlowerApple Blossom1897
Game MammalWhitetail DeerUnknown
GemChlorastrolie (Greenstone)1972
Motto'Si quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice'
('If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you')		1835
Nickname'the Wolverine State'Unknown
ReptilePainted TurtleUnknown
SoilKalaska SeriesUnknown
StonePetoskey1965
TreeWhite Pine1955
WildflowerDwarf Lake Iris1998

 

Other Facts

  • The Territory
    • In 1787, Michigan Territory was a part of other Central-Western States
    • In 1805, January 11th it was a separate territory, effective June 30th
    • In 1827, January 26th, Michigan became the 26th state of the USA
  • The capital is Lansing, dedicated in 1847
    • Other big or important cities are: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo & Flint
  • Michigan is splitted in the Lower and Upper Peninsula
    • The most important city at the Upper Peninsula is Marquette
    • The 'Mackinac Bridge' is the bridge which connect the Upper and Lower Peninsula
      • The opening was in 1957
      • The problem is that you have to pay if you want to cross the 5 miles long bridge (8 kilometers)
  • The state of Michigan is surrounded by four lakes, called the 'Great Lakes'
    • Individually, they're called 'Lake Michigan', 'Lake Superior', 'Lake Erie' and 'Lake Huron'
    • No point in Michigan is more than 85 miles (136 kilometers) from one of the 'Great Lakes'
      No point in Michigan is more than 6 miles (8.5 kilometers) from a lake or river
    • Michigan has a shoreline of 2,242 miles (3587 kilometers)
      If islands are included, then there are another 879 miles (1406 kilometers) of shoreline

Timeline


Year  What
1805The Michigan Territory is established with Detroit as the Capital
1837Michigan becomes the 26th state of the US
1847The Capital is moved to Lansing
1914Thousands of people come to Michigan to work in the auto industry, because Henry Ford promised $5.00 per day
1957The 'Mackinac Bridge' is completed, uniting the two Peninsulas
 
With thanks to the State of Michigan (Lt. Gov.)

Why is Upper Peninsula from Michigan?

          In 1834, Michigan wanted to join the US. But the state of Michigan said that the border was at the south of Toledo. Ohio said that it was from them. The federal government said that Ohio owned Toledo, but Michigan received Upper Peninsula for their los. They didn't like it very much, because it's onhospitable territory. But when they found iron ore and copper, they were very glad.  

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