Some people believe that Ohioans gave Michigan the nickname around 1835 during a dispute over the Toledo strip, a piece of land along the border between Ohio and Michigan. Rumors in Ohio at the time described Michiganians as being as vicious and bloodthirsty as wolverines. This dispute became known as the Toledo War.

Another reason given for the nickname is a story that has Native Americans, during the 1830s, comparing Michigan settlers to wolverines. Some native people, according to this story, disliked the way settlers were taking the land because it made them think of how the gluttonous wolverine went after its food.

"Michigan" comes from the Indian word "Michigama" meaning great or big lake.

Mighty Mac!
Total Length of Bridge (5 Miles)
Height of Main Towers above Water 552 Ft
Began Construction May 7, 1954
Open to traffic November 1, 1957
Total Length of Wire in Main Cables 42,000 Miles

My parents are from the Cheboygan/Mackinaw area,
and my mom said she remembered when the
only access to the Upper Pennisula was by car ferry!

The Mighty Mac is operated and maintained by the
State of Michigan Mackinac Bridge Authority.
The fare for an auto is $1.50, this money
is used for the constant upkeep of our Majestic Mac!
There is some 30,000+ vehicles that cross
The Mackinac Bridge on an average month!

Michigans Upper Pennisula, the "last frontier" of our beautiful State!
More than 150 waterfalls in beautiful Upper Pennisula!
Bond Falls
Manido Falls
Tahquamenon Falls

Pictured Rocks, Lake Superior Shoreline

Common terminology for Michiganders:
Yooper: resident of the U.P
Troll: those who live below the (Mighty Mac) bridge!


Sitting just a few miles off shore of Saint Ignace,
in Lake Huron is the 'Jewel' of Michigan.
Mackinac Island!
A truly beautiful, historic site!
Claims to fame is Fort Mackinac, THE Grand Hotel,
which was the setting for Christopher Reeves
movie: "Somewhere In Time"!

Mackinac Island Fudge! And the 'no cars' law!
Absolutely no automobiles can be found on this
pristine Island! The mode of transportation is
horses, horse and carriage, bicycles,
snowmobiles in the winter.
The only access to the Island is by ferry in the
spring, summer and fall. Or small planes.
And snowmobiles once the lake freezes!


I've been a life-long resident of Michigan! I love my State! It has something for everyone! Boating, swimming (NO sharks!), fishing, hunting, skiing, snowmobiling, trails, camping, waterfalls, color season (fall), historical sites, islands, sand dune climbing...with or without a dunebuggy! Beach-combing...lots of beaches! In fact over 3,200 miles of Shoreline! Equine trails that stretch across the state. Flatlands, farms and forests!
Michigan shore-to-shore trail and trail ride,
sponsered by the MTRA
(Michigan Trail Riders Association),
goes from lakeshore to lakeshore.
People from all over the world come to
take part in the rides.
October color tour is by far the most popular!




We're the only State in the nation where you can look at your right hand and say "I live right here!" and pinpoint where you live! :)


Third largest apple producer in the World! Love them Michigan apples! Our State flower is the Apple Blossom.
Also, Michigan has a huge Cherry crop industry! Traverse City is host to The Annual National Cherry Festival.


AND the Nations largest pumpkin crop producers!
 

Guardians of The Lakes!
Over 100 historic Lighthouses line our inland seas!




Some facts about My Michigan!

1--"E Pluribus Unum."
These words come from our national motto meaning, "From many, one."
2--Below is the American Eagle, our national bird.
In his claws he holds three arrows and an olive branch with 13 olives. The arrows show that our nation is ready to defend its principles. The olive branch means we want peace. The olives stand for the first 13 states.
3--"Tuebor," meaning, "I will defend," refers to Michigan?s frontier position.
4--The shield is held by two animals representing Michigan...the elk on the left and the moose on the right.
5--Michigan is on an international boundary, and the figure of the man shows his right hand raised in peace. The left hand holds a gun to say that although we love peace, we are ready to defend our state and nation.
6--"Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice" means, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you."
Evidently this refers to the Lower Peninsula.
The Upper Peninsula was added in 1837.

State Bird: Robin

State Fish: Brook Trout
State Tree: White Pine
State Stone: Petoskey
State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
We also have State Soil, State Turtle, etc.


The present flag,
Michigan's third since becoming a state in 1837
was adopted by Public Act 209 of 1911.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of Michigan,
and to the state for which it stands,
2 beautiful peninsulas united by a bridge of steel,
where equal opportunity and justice to all is our ideal."

Our State is hosts for some well-known Unniversities!
2 of our schools are in the Top 10 College football.
Yes! I'm a Wolverine fan!


CMU Chippewas used to use a Native American headdress as their logo, but it has been removed in the last couple of years.
Also...we're HOME of THE Detroit Red Wings!



Michigan! My Michigan, not 'official' State song, but it is used. Schools also adopted it for use in musical and patriotic programs. The music is O'Tannebaum, a most fitting score for the State that will be donating this years Christmas tree to the Nations Capitol. "The Tree of Hope" will be travelling from Michigans Upper Pennisula in the next couple of days. 11/15/01.

Michigan, My Michigan
Written by: William Otto Miessner & Douglas M. Malloch

A song to thee, fair State of mine,
Michigan, my Michigan;
But greater song than this is thine,
Michigan, my Michigan;
The whisper of the forest tree,
The thunder of the inland sea;
Unite in one grand symphony
Of Michigan, my Michigan.

I sing a State of all the best,
Michigan, my Michigan;
I sing a State with riches blest,
Michigan, my Michigan;
Thy mines unmask a hidden store,
But richer thy historic lore,
More great the love thy builders bore,
Oh, Michigan, my Michigan.

How fair the bosom of thy lakes,
Michigan, my Michigan;
What melody each river makes;
Michigan, my Michigan;
As to thy lakes the rivers tend,
Thy exiled children to thee send
Devotion that shall never end,
Oh, Michigan, my Michigan.

Thou rich in wealth makes a State,
Michigan, my Michigan;
Thou great in things that make us great,
Michigan, my Michigan;
Our loyal voices sound thy claim
Upon the golden roll of fame
Our loyal hands shall write the name
Of Michigan, my Michigan.

Michigan is the birthplace to 2 very famous products!

"You can paint it any color, so long as it's black!"
The Automotive Industry got its start in Michigan in 1906!
Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village
20900 Oakwood Boulevard
PO Box 1970
Dearborn, MI 48121


Battle Creek, MI
Kellogg is the world's leading producer
of cereal and convenience foods.
Will Keith Kellogg founded the W. K. Kellogg company,
in 1908; which continues to produce many
popular breakfast cereals.





Michigan History
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Everything Michigan!