Shows / Michigan Minute
Michigan Minute
WKAR’s Jamie Paisley presents intriguing stories for each day in Michigan history. From name changes and iconic cities to arcane laws, Michigan Minute covers a wide variety of fascinatingly true tales from the Great Lake State. Interested in supporting the Michigan Minute?
Episodes
- Michigan Minute
Upper Peninsula Milestones | October 27
On this day in 1992, the Keweenaw National Historic Park was established in Calumet, MI, honoring Michigan's rich mining history. Also, in 1876, after…
- Michigan Minute
From Jackson to the Erie Canal | October 26
On this day in 1975, Paula Faris, journalist and TV personality for ABC News, was born in Jackson, Michigan. Faris co-anchored Good Morning America from 2014…
- Michigan Minute
A Day of Firsts in Michigan | October 25
On this day in 1918, Lucy A. Sloan, a Michigan scholar, educator, author, and suffragist, passed away in Mt. Pleasant. Sloan was a champion of women's rights…
- Michigan Minute
The Heroine of Niagara | October 24
On this day in 1901, Annie Edson Taylor, a widowed schoolteacher from Bay City, Michigan, made history by becoming the first person to go over Niagara Falls in…
- Michigan Minute
Ballooning Heights and Legal Milestones | October 23
On this day in 1934, Jean and Jeanette Piccard launched a balloon from Dearborn, Michigan, reaching 10.9 miles in altitude before landing in Ohio, accompanied…
- Michigan Minute
Harry Callahan & Michigan State's Historic Marker | October 22
On this day in 1912, Detroit-born photographer Harry Callahan was born. Initially working for Chrysler, he shifted to photography after hearing Ansel Adams…
- Michigan Minute
Sleeping Bear Dunes & Will Carleton | October 21
On this day in 1977, the stunning Sleeping Bear Dunes, inspired by a Chippewa legend of a mother bear and her cubs, officially became a National Lakeshore…
- Michigan Minute
Milo Radulovich and the Red Scare | October 20
In the 1950s, 26-year-old WWII veteran Milo Radulovich, a meteorology student at the University of Michigan, was dismissed from the Army Reserves as a security…
- Michigan Minute
Kalamazoo Votes for Education and Political Reform | October 19
On this day in 1903, Kalamazoo voters approved funding for the Western State Normal School, later Western Michigan University, with an impressive 8-to-1…
- Michigan Minute
Celebrating Philately and Willie Horton | October 18
On this day in 1978, the USPS released one of two Christmas stamps in Holly, Michigan, a treat for stamp collectors. Additionally, we celebrate the birthday of…
- Michigan Minute
Celebrating Queen Naija | October 17
Happy birthday to Queen Naija, born in Ypsilanti in 1995! A singer and YouTuber, she gained fame as a contestant on the 13th season of American Idol. After…
- Michigan Minute
A Day of Public Health and Hockey History | October 16
On this day in 1918, amid the Spanish influenza outbreak, U-of-M students in Ann Arbor received facemasks, while Dr. R. M. Olin upheld a quarantine in East…
- Michigan Minute
The Burt Lake Burnout | October 15
On this day in 1900, a dark chapter unfolded for the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa indigenous peoples in Michigan. After years of treaties with the…
- Michigan Minute
Celebrating Dave DeBusschere | October 14
Born today in 1940 in Detroit, Dave DeBusschere was a dual-sport athlete who played both Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox and basketball for the…
- Michigan Minute
Remembering Douglass Houghton | October 13
On this day in 1845, Douglass Houghton, Michigan's state geologist, drowned in Lake Superior. He mapped much of the state and is honored with the namesake of…
- Michigan Minute
The Birth of Gumby | October 12
On this day in 1921, Art Clokey was born in Detroit. While his name may not be widely recognized, his creation, Gumby, is iconic. Clokey spent his childhood…
- Michigan Minute
Numbers on Jerseys and Trailblazing Troopers | October 11
On this day in 1910, an op-ed in the Michigan Daily called for University of Michigan football players to wear numbers on their jerseys, but coach Fielding H…
- Michigan Minute
Tigers' Triumphs and Voice Legends | October 10
On this day, the Detroit Tigers celebrated two World Series victories: their second title in 1945 against the Chicago Cubs and their third in 1968 against the…
- Michigan Minute
Martha Strickland Clark Makes Legal History & KISS Rocks Cadillac | October 9
On this day in 1888, Martha Strickland Clark became the first woman to argue before the Michigan Supreme Court, winning a landmark divorce case in Thompson v…
- Michigan Minute
Fires Ravage Michigan & FBI Foils Kidnapping Plot | October 8
On this day in 1871, fires broke out across Michigan, devastating areas from Holland to Manistee and the Thumb region, claiming over 50 lives. In 2020, the FBI…
- Michigan Minute
Thunder Bay's Marine Sanctuary & DIA's Grand Opening | October 7
Known as "Shipwreck Alley," Thunder Bay near Alpena, Michigan, was designated a National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve today in 2000. In 1927, after…
- Michigan Minute
Pictured Rocks' Designation & Early Gay Rights Bill | October 6
On this day in 1972, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore became the first of its kind, showcasing 73,000 acres of stunning natural beauty in Michigan’s Upper…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan’s First Election & Red Wings’ New Arena Debut | October 5
On this day in 1835, Michigan voters elected their first governor, Stephen T. Mason, along with the first state legislature, while also adopting a…
- Michigan Minute
Buster Keaton & Charlton Heston's Michigan Roots | October 4
Born today in 1894, Buster Keaton, famed silent film star, has ties to Muskegon through the Bluffton Actor’s Colony. Meanwhile, Oscar-winner Charlton Heston…
- Michigan Minute
Karen Koch & Mackinac’s Timeless Charm | October 3
Born today in 1951, Karen Koch of Monroe, Michigan, became the first female professional hockey player, debuting as a goaltender for the Marquette Iron…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan’s Capitol: A Building of Pride | October 2
On this day in 1873, the cornerstone for Michigan’s third and current state capitol building was laid. Designed by Elijah E. Meyers, the building features a…
- Michigan Minute
Fannie Richards: Michigan’s First Black Teacher | October 1
Born on this day in 1840, Fannie Richards became Detroit’s first Black school teacher and played a crucial role in pioneering early childhood education in…
- Michigan Minute
Lucinda Hinsdale Stone: Pioneer Educator | September 30
Born on this day in 1814, in Vermont, Lucinda Hinsdale Stone moved to Kalamazoo in 1843. She became a leading educator at Kalamazoo College, advocating for…
- Michigan Minute
WGPR-TV: First Black-Owned Station | September 29
Today in 1975, Detroit launched WGPR-TV, the first TV station in the U.S. owned and operated by Black Americans. Founded by William Venoid Banks, it offered…
- Michigan Minute
Historic Football Blowout & Freep's Anniversary | September 28
On this day in 1912, Muskegon High defeated Hastings High with a staggering score of 216-0, marking the largest blowout in football history. Also on this day…
- Michigan Minute
Big Rock Nuclear Plant & Tiger Stadium | September 27
Today in 1962, Michigan's Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant, near Charlevoix, began operation, featuring a promotional video with Ronald Reagan. The plant…
- Michigan Minute
Serena Williams and the Denison Family | September 26
On this day in 1981, tennis legend Serena Williams was born in Saginaw, Michigan. Additionally, on this day in 1807, the Denison family fought for freedom in…
- Michigan Minute
Jamie Hyneman's Birth & Michigan's 2nd State Fair | September 25
Today in 1956, Jamie Hyneman, future MythBusters co-host, was born in Marshall, Michigan. On the same day in 1849, Detroit hosted its second state fair, a…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan's Last Execution | September 24
Today in 1830, Stephen G. Simmons was executed in Detroit for killing his wife, marking Michigan's last death penalty before its abolition in 1846. His moving…
- Michigan Minute
Jerry B. Jenkins & Lions' Debut | September 23
Born on this day in 1949, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Jerry B. Jenkins is a bestselling author best known for the Left Behind series. On this day in 1934, the…
- Michigan Minute
Ernest Green: Trailblazer & Activist | September 22
Born on this day in 1941, Ernest Green, a member of the Little Rock Nine, was the first Black student to graduate from Little Rock Central High School in 1958…
- Michigan Minute
The Black Madonna Unveiled | September 21
On this day in 1969, the University of Detroit Mercy dedicated Gino Testaguzzi’s bronze statue, The Black Madonna and Child. This artwork, commissioned to…
- Michigan Minute
Charles Howard Wright's Legacy | September 20
Today in 1918, in Alabama, Dr. Charles Howard Wright moved to Detroit, where he challenged racial segregation at Hutzel Women’s Hospital. His efforts led to…
- Michigan Minute
Iron Ore Discovery & Bissell Sweeper | September 19
Today in 1844, William Austin Burt discovered iron ore in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, fueling future steel production. On September 15, 1876, Melville Bissell…
- Michigan Minute
Ben Carson's Birthday & Hazel Stimson | September 18
Today in 1951, neurosurgeon and political figure Ben Carson was born in Detroit, Michigan. Carson later gained prominence as a presidential candidate and HUD…
- Michigan Minute
Record Ice Cream Sundae & Paul Feig | September 17
Today in 2016, Nashville, Michigan reclaimed the world record for the longest ice cream sundae with a 3,656-foot creation. In 1962, Paul Feig was born in Mount…
- Michigan Minute
Yooper Medal of Honor & U-M’s First Black QB | September 16
Today in 1944, Yooper Sergeant Oscar Johnson of Foster City earned the Medal of Honor for his valor in WWII. Johnson later farmed and attended Michigan State…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan Tech’s Start & First Phone Book | September 15
Today in 1886, Michigan Mining School held its first classes in Houghton Fire Hall, evolving into Michigan Tech. Meanwhile, in 1878, Michigan's first phone…
- Michigan Minute
Detroit Tribune & Pop-Tarts Debut | September 14
On this day in 1935, the first issue of the Detroit Tribune, a historic Black newspaper, was published. It continued until 1966 and is now available online. In…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan Cemeteries Desegregated | September 13
On this day in 1966, the Michigan Court of Appeals desegregated cemeteries, ending racial segregation in final resting places. This decision followed the…
- Michigan Minute
First Flight in Grand Rapids | September 12
On this day in 1911, J. Clifford Turpin made the first flight over Grand Rapids at the West Michigan State Fair. His Model B plane, with wheels for takeoff and…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan Scandal Ends with Expulsions | September 11
In 2015, Michigan Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat were embroiled in a scandal involving fake stories and misuse of taxpayer funds. Courser…
- Michigan Minute
Big Annie’s Protest and Mickey Mantle’s Home Run | September 10
Today in 1913, Ana Clemenc, known as “Big Annie,” was jailed during a protest at Calumet mine while supporting striking miners. She was convicted of assault…
- Michigan Minute
Dr. Ossian Sweet's Historic Struggle | September 9
Today in 1925, Dr. Ossian Sweet and his family were attacked by a white mob in Detroit after moving to a neighborhood considered beyond the color line. In…
- Michigan Minute
Celebrating Eleanore Hutzel and Gerald Ford's Controversial Pardon | September 8
Today in 1885, Eleanore Hutzel was born in Ann Arbor. She became a pioneering advocate for women's and children's rights, leading the Women's Division of the…
- Michigan Minute
Michigander's Historic Spaceflight | September 7
Today in 1956, Michigan's Iven Kincheloe set a record altitude of 126,200 feet in his X-2 plane, becoming known as America's first spaceman. Kincheloe’s career…
- Michigan Minute
Sarah Emma Edmonds' Legacy and Beatlemania in Detroit | September 6
On this day in 1898, Sarah Emma Edmonds, a Civil War veteran who served disguised as a man in the Union Army, passed away. Also, in 1964, Beatlemania hit…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan's 1881 Firestorm and the Mackinac Bridge Walk | September 5
On this day in 1881, a massive firestorm in Michigan's Thumb burned over a million acres, killing at least 282 people. In 1959, the Mackinac Bridge Walk was…
- Michigan Minute
The Potawatomi "Trail of Death" and Felix Schlag’s Nickel Legacy | September 4
On this day in 1838, over 850 Potawatomi, including 150 from Michigan, were forced west on the "trail of death," though some in Dowagiac resisted thanks to…
- Michigan Minute
Treaty of Paris and Isle Royale's American Legacy | September 3
Today in 1783, the U.S. Revolutionary War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris by future president John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, among…
- Michigan Minute
Detroit's First Automobile Fatality and a Milestone for Women Pilots | September 2
On this day in 1902, Detroit recorded its first automobile fatality when businessman George W. Bissell was thrown from his horse-drawn carriage after it was…
- Michigan Minute
Celebrating Lily Tomlin | September 1
Born in Detroit on August 31, 1939, Lily Tomlin began her career in stand-up comedy before earning acclaim in film, television, and theater. Known for her…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan's First Newspaper | August 31
Today in 1809, the first and possibly only issue of "The Michigan Essay or The Impartial Observer" was published by Father Gabriel Richard in Detroit. The…
- Michigan Minute
Ty Cobb's MLB Debut in Detroit | August 30
Today in 1905, Ty Cobb made his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers at 18 years old. Known for his exceptional batting, Cobb hit .420 in the 1911 season and…
- Michigan Minute
Jazz Musician Bennie Maupin Born in Detroit | August 29
Jazz musician Bennie Maupin, born in Detroit on this day in 1940, famously declined Miles Davis's offer to join his band in 1970, having already committed to…