On this day in 2016, hockey legend Gordie Howe passed, leaving behind a record-breaking career and a lasting impact on Detroit and the sport.

On this day in 1945, Michigan State unveiled the original Sparty statue, symbolizing decades of Spartan athletic spirit and achievement.

On this day in 1953, an F5 tornado tore through Genesee County, killing 116 and injuring hundreds more in one of Michigan’s deadliest storms.

On this day in 1932, Mary Moore was born in Detroit. She played for the Battle Creek Belles and slid into home in A League of Their Own.

On this day in 1944, Gen. Eisenhower gave his D-Day orders to Lt. Wallace Strobel of Saginaw, Michigan—captured in a now-iconic photo turned postage stamp.

On this day in 1914, Elly Peterson was born—becoming the first woman to lead a major Michigan political party and a pioneer for women in politics.

On this day in 1896, Henry Ford test drove his first gas-powered vehicle—the Quadricycle—paving the road to the future of automobiles.

On this day in 1943, Michigan’s Hurley Smith patented the pocket protector—creating a simple, smart fix for ink stains and worn-out shirts.

On this day in 2010, Armando Galarraga lost a perfect game on a missed call, resulting in the now-legendary “28-out perfect game.”

On this day in 1863, Michigan began recruiting Native Americans to form Company K, an all-Indigenous Civil War unit that fought with distinction under a live eagle mascot. And in 1910, the Dodge brothers broke ground on their massive Hamtramck factory, transforming the town into a bustling hub of Polish-American industry—until its closure in 1980.