Michigan Minute

Florence Knoll, born in 1917, left an indelible mark on modern design, revolutionizing office spaces with her open layout concepts. On this day in 1820, Governor Lewis Cass and geologist Henry Schoolcraft launched a pioneering expedition to explore Michigan's Upper Peninsula, aiming to promote settlement in the region.

1939: Detroit City Council banned pinball machines from being played on the streets due to concerns about gambling. 1978: Gwen Frostic, a celebrated Michigan artist, is honored with Gwen Frostic Day, recognized for her nature-inspired art and her legacy as a Michigan Women's Hall of Fame inductee.

2015: Divers made a startling discovery in Lake Michigan: an underwater Stonehenge-like structure dating back around 14,000 years. 1857: William Ferguson, Michigan's first Black legislator, was born in Detroit, later gaining prominence for his legal victories against racial discrimination.

1892: Ransom E. Olds made automotive history by selling the first American car for export. 1937: "My Michigan" became the official state song, though rarely sung due to copyright issues.

1927: Detroit's own Charles Lindbergh made history with the first solo transatlantic flight. 1970: Michigan State University faced a student strike protesting the Vietnam War, culminating in a dramatic intervention by state police to end the protest.

1903: Buick, now a GM division, was incorporated in Detroit, marking the official start of a pioneering automotive legacy. 1930: Sparrow Hospital in Lansing welcomed the world's first recorded identical quadruplets, sparking international fascination and local celebrity status for the Morlok family, with the girls even influencing political outcomes in Lansing.

1846: Michigan became the first English-speaking government to outlaw the death penalty, a milestone signed into law by Governor Alpheus Felch. 1929: Michigan's inaugural Holland Tulip Time blossomed, a tradition initiated by high school teacher Lida Rogers, celebrated annually except during World War II and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

1866: Frederick Douglass graced Ypsilanti, Michigan, with his eloquence, addressing Lincoln's assassination and Civil War anecdotes. 1881: Julius Ropes struck gold near Ishpeming, sparking a rush that led to the opening of the only profitable gold mine east of the Mississippi River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

1986: "Top Gun" soared into theaters, written by Michigan State professor Jim Cash and his former student Jack Epps Jr. Despite geographical distance, they collaborated to create a blockbuster. 2016: John Willie Jordan of Farmington, Michigan, received the Congressional Gold Medal. As one of the pioneering Black Marines, part of the Montford Point Marines, he symbolized resilience and courage amidst historical challenges.

Celebrating the birthday of L. Frank Baum in 1856, renowned author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Before Oz took flight in 1900, Baum gained fame with the bestselling children's book "Father Goose: His Book." Profits from his literary success led him to acquire a Victorian summer home near Holland, Michigan, known as The Sign of the Goose, commemorating his earlier triumph.