Information and history of the state of Michigan

The first European, Étienne Brulé of France, arrived in 1618, and the first permanent settlement was established in 1668.France was ousted from the territory by Great Britain in 1763, following the French and Indian Wars.

After the Revolutionary War, the U.S. acquired most of the region.

Michigan was admitted into the Union on January 26, 1837, as the 26th state.

Some Michigan Symbols

1. State Bird	2. State Mammal	3. State Flower	4. State Stone	5. State Reptile
6. State Tree	7. State Gem	8. State Fossil	9. State Fish	10. State Soil

1. American Robin - The robin was designated the official state bird of Michigan in 1931 after an election held by the Michigan Audubon Society.
2. White-Tailed Deer- Michigan designated the white-tailed deer as official state animal in 1997.
3. Apple Blossom -Michigan designated the apple blossom as official state flower in 1897.
4. Petosky Stone - Michigan designated the Petoskey stone as the official "state stone" in 1965 (Petoskey stone is actually not a stone but fossilized coral).
5. Painted Turtle - The painted turtle was designated the official state reptile of Michigan in 1995. The painted turtle is the only turtle still commonly found in Michigan.
6. Eastern White Pine - Michigan designated the white pine as official state tree in 1955.
7. Isle Royale Greenstone - Michigan designated Isle Royale greenstone (chlorastrolite) as the official state gem in 1973.
8. Mastodon - The giant mastodon was designated the official state fossil of Michigan in 2002. One of the most complete mastodon skeletons ever found was discovered near Owosso, Michigan.
9. Brook Trout - Michigan designated the brook trout as the official state fish in 1988.
10. Kalkaska Soil -Michigan designated the Kalkaska soil series as the official state soil in 1990. Kalkaska soil occurs in both the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan.

Did you know?

• Isle Royal Park shelters one of the largest moose herds remaining in the United States.
• Standing anywhere in the state a person is within 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes.
• Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the world.
• The Kellogg Company has made Battle Creek the Cereal Capital of the World. The Kellogg brothers accidentally discovered the process for producing flaked cereal products and sparked the beginning of the dry cereal industry.
• The Mackinac Bridge is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. Connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, it spans 5 miles over the Straits of Mackinac.
• Detroit is known as the car capital of the world.
• Gerald R. Ford grew up in Grand Rapids and became the 38th president of the United States.